Aloha Friends,

I hope you and your family are enjoying the summer. Here are a few things I’d like to share with you.

Important Legislation Passes

Three important pieces of legislation that I authored passed the Legislature this session: SB 1891 gives the Department of Land and Natural Resources greater enforcement powers to protect our public lands and prevent ATVs and other vehicles from illegally driving on our beaches; SB 2373 requires retailers to maintain an electronic log of pseudoephedrine sales (a primary ingredient in making “ice") and submit a monthly report to the Department of Public Safety; SCR 70 directs the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to do a study on the feasibility of establishing a degree program for Sports and Entertainment Management at UH.

Both SB 1891 and SB 2373 would give law enforcement better tools to protect our community and environment. The bills are now on Gov. Linda Lingle’s desk, awaiting her signature. She has until July 8 to sign the bills into law, to allow them to become law without her signature or to veto them.

SCR 70 starts the conversation aimed at developing a program at UH to train future leaders in the sports and entertainment industries. SCR 70 doesn’t need the governor’s approval, so the report is scheduled to be completed before the start of the 2009 Legislative Session next January.

Senate District 19 Benefits in a Big Way from State Construction Funding

Senate District 19 was fortunate to have received $295,509,000 million in construction funding in the 2007-2009 State Budget. Last year, the budget included funding for important projects such as UH West Oahu, North South Road, East-West Road and Kapolei Court Complex. This year, we were able to secure an additional $37,668,000. The projects under construction (and their expected cost) include:

Ft. Barrette Road Widening - $20,000,000

Kapolei Judiciary Complex - $9,255,000

Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor Improvements - $6,600,000

Kalaeloa Safety Improvements - $850,000

Malama Learning Center (at Kapolei High School) - $500,000

Makakilo Baptist Church Preschool - $200,000

Waiahole Water System Improvements - $163,000

Barbers Point Elementary Improvements - $100,000

UH West Oahu Zone Change Needs City Council Approval

I submitted testimony in strong support of Bill 25, which is currently before the City Council and passed the Zoning Committee on May 13. This bill would allow 500 acres of land to be rezoned so that the future campus of UH West Oahu can be built. (You may have heard that the first phase of the campus is scheduled for completion by fall 2010.) I encourage you to get involved and testify on this important bill at the City Council. For more information, please contact Gale Mejia at 454-4824.

“Listen-Story”

I’ll be hosting my next “Listen-Story” meeting at the Waikele Starbucks (next to Borders Books) at 9 a.m. on June 21.

Please contact me if I can help you. My phone is 586-6830 and e-mail is sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov. Mahalo for the privilege of serving you!