(BIVN) – The Hawaii State Association of Counties is circulating their legislative agenda for the 2018 session.
A media release was issued today, HSAC lays out five top priorities. The organization consists of the councils and mayors of each county and advocates for county government before the Hawaii State Legislature, the state administration, and the federal government.
Hawaii County Councilmember Dru Kanuha sits on the HSAC Executive Committee. Other councilmembers from the Big Island can be seen in the photo shared by the organization (above).
From HSAC:
Hawaii State Association of Countieson January 16, 2018
Counties Seek Collaboration And Solutions At 2018 Legislative Session
The Hawaii State Association of Counties, which represents the four counties of Kauai, Maui, Hawaii and City & County of Honolulu, submitted its 2018 legislative package to state lawmakers this week.
“During each legislative session, HSAC provides a package vetted and approved by all four county councils of the state,” said HSAC president and Hawaii County Councilmember Dru Kanuha. “These proposed measures help maximize the effectiveness and performance of county governments to improve the quality of life of our constituents – the same residents and visitors the counties and state serve.”
An informational briefing for state legislators was held today at the State Capitol to discuss the organization’s legislative package.
Kanuha said HSAC will continue to advocate for a fairer share of the transient accommodations tax, also known as hotel tax, or TAT, and urge legislators to restore legal immunity for county lifeguards taken away during the last legislative
session.
“HSAC hopes to achieve the following goals by working in a collaborative manner with the State Legislature this session,” Kanuha said. Some of HSAC’s 2018 legislative priorities include:
1) Fairer TAT distribution between state and counties. HSAC’s bill mirrors recommendations made by the State-County Functions Working Group to the Legislature to provide a fairer 55-45 percent split of TAT revenue between the state and counties.
2) Return of limited liability protection for county lifeguards. The counties seek to ensure civil liability protection for county lifeguards against frivolous lawsuits – a benefit state lifeguards currently have.
3) Having a small percentage of the state conveyance tax revenue go to each county’s affordable housing fund to increase the supply of affordable housing units.
4) Tax credit to install fire suppression systems in one or two-family residential units.
5) Additional ambulance service for Kauai and Hawaii Counties.
by Big Island Video News
on at
STORY SUMMARY
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The counties' legislative package was presented to state lawmakers this week, as the opening of the 2018 session opens Wednesday.