Tsutsui Signs Bills into Law on Legislative Deadline

Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui. Courtesy photo Leighton Hiranaga

By Wendy Osher

Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui of Maui will sign several bills into law today as he covers for the governor who is on Hawaiian Airlines’ inaugural flight to Taipei.

In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Hawaiʻi-Taiwan sister-state relationship, the governor’s official visit will include a meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou and participation in a Hawaiian Products Week event, officials said.

Here at home, the lieutenant governor will sign six bills into law, meeting today’s deadline that requires the governor to either veto, sign the bills, or allow then to become law without a signature.

One of the bills, SB 1256, appropriates funds for a Pacific International Space Center to help bring aerospace technology and corporations to the state. Another bill, SB 1349, reenacts the tax credit for qualified research activities for six years.

Funding appropriations are also included in: SB 1221, for the development of an international flight training center at the University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College campuses; HB 858, for the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation for the HI Growth Initiative; HB 417 for the interdisciplinary Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program at Hilo Medical Center to address the primary care physician shortage; and HB 1396 for the planning and design of the Nisei Veterans Legacy Center in West Oʻahu.

Two weeks ago, the governor signed several bills into law relating to Maui, including items relating to the acquisition of Līpoa Point, allowing mooring of canoes at small boat harbors, establishing emergency medical services at Māʻalaea, and establishing an exemption for the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission.