Allows for the acquisition, possession, and use of marijuana for medical purposes. The Hawaii Medical Association, HPD, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and the American Cancer Society opposed this bill. The final vote was 29 for and 20 against. I voted against this bill since the medical community still says marijuana is not needed as medicine, and law enforcement says this bill will essentially de-criminalize marijuana possession and distribution.

SB 914 - Blank Ballots regarding a Constitutional Convention.

Specifies that ballots cast includes blank, spoiled or invalid ballots in a question for a constitutional convention. This means these ballots will be counted as no votes. I voted against this bill because it makes it too difficult for the people to prevail in a vote to hold a Constitutional Convention.

SB 2147 - Campaign Contribution Limits.

Reduces the maximum campaign contribution that can be made to a candidate for a four year elected office during the period 2000 to 2002. In the House, this bill was labeled the "Senate Incumbent Retention Act" since it would mostly affect those running against incumbent Senators. I voted against this bill since if reform is good, we should make it permanent, and for all offices. This bill has no impact on contributions made to those running for the House of Representatives.

SB 2194 - Tax Credit for CPR Certification.

This bill provides an income tax credit for obtaining CPR certification. The Republican Caucus tried to amend this bill on the floor to provide a credit for the General Excise Tax paid by Hawaii residents on food and medical services. The amendment was defeated. Then we voted to pass the CPR credit. The Republican Caucus goal is to eliminate the GET on food, medicine and rent.

SB 2151 - Firearms - Mental Health Checks.

Mandates county police to conduct mental health and criminal history inquiries on registered firearms owners in five-year intervals. Provides for firearm registry update by statement made under penalty of perjury every five years. Provides for surrender or confiscation of all firearms by any person prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. Provides for petty misdemeanor penalty for failure or refusal to cooperate and failure to comply with section. This bill is a hasty response to the Xerox shootings of last year. I voted against it since our existing laws, if vigorously enforced, will solve the problem without running afoul of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

SB 2218 - New Century Charter Schools.

Provides legal protection for new century charter school boards. Allows groups of teachers at a school to form a charter school. Requires the auditor to consider the advice of the superintendent and local school boards in setting the allocation for new century charter schools. This bill passed unanimously. What this bill does not do, is provide for more chartering authorities. It keeps chartering schools in the hands of the Governor and the Board of Education. This bill also does not give Charter Schools any flexibility regarding collective bargaining.

SB 2430 - Civil Rights - Sexual Orientation - Anti-Discrimination in Housing

Adds sexual orientation as a protected status for laws prohibiting discrimination in housing. Creates an additional exemption to discrimination in housing law. Adds sexual orientation and familial status as protected statuses in anti-blockbusting law. This bill was strongly opposed by various religious institutions as violating their First Amendment freedoms by requiring them to comply with state law, rather than their religious beliefs, in running housing they own. The bill was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee and will not resurface this session.

SB 2666 - Clean Elections Pilot Project.

Establishes a pilot program for the city and county of Honolulu council elections of 2002 providing for public funding for candidates who voluntarily abide by specified contribution and expenditure limits.

SB 2837 - Educational Accountability.

Mandates that DOE implement an educational accountability system for Hawaii's public schools that focuses on student learning of the statewide standards and includes student accountability; school or collective professional accountability of rewards, assistance, and sanctions; individual professional accountability; and public accounting for other significant partners to the education process. Establishes an interagency educational accountability working group.

SB 2859 - Civil Service Reform.

Makes minor reforms to the public employment laws to improve the efficiency and effectiveness. This bill is a start but does not go far enough to ensure our tax dollars are being well spent. Eliminated from the bill as proposed by the Governor were:

Making the Counties, the State, and UH separate bargaining jurisdictions;

Limiting mandatory arbitration only to police, fire, and prison workers;

SB 2935 - Crystal Methamphetamine Penalties.

Repeals mandatory terms of imprisonment for possession or distribution of methamphetamine in the third degree. Requires convicted persons who are sentenced to probation to pay for and participate in an appropriate drug treatment or education program. HPD and the Prosecuting Attorney opposed this bill since it removes the hammer of a mandatory jail term to compel drug users to successfully complete rehabilitation. I voted against this bill.

SB 3026 - School Repair and Maintenance Special Fund.

Establishes the state educational facilities repair and maintenance special fund to eliminate the backlog of projects existing on June 30, 2000. Establishes the school physical plant operations and maintenance special fund to pay for school repairs and cyclical maintenance projects scheduled after June 30, 2000. Specifies how school repair and maintenance moneys are to be prioritized and allocated. Provides for the overseeing of school facility planning. This bill responds to many years of neglecting our schools. Our children and their children will be paying off the general obligation bonds issued to repair the schools. I voted for this bill to get the schools fixed, but we really should be using operating funds, not bonds, to pay for repairs.

SB 3176 - Insurance Coverage

Extends medical and other insurance benefits to reciprocal beneficiaries. Requires the Public Employees Health Fund to establish a reciprocal beneficiary family coverage health benefits plan. This bill was recommitted to the Finance Committee - which kills the bill for this session.