Lawmakers to consider budget, resolutions

Associated Press

HONOLULU — Hawaii Senate and House lawmakers plan to spend the beginning of this week in negotiations over roughly $24 billion in proposed state spending for the next two fiscal years.

A conference committee reconvenes Monday, led by the head of each chamber’s primary spending committee, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Ige and Rep. Sylvia Luke, chairwoman of the House Finance Committee.

The chambers have already agreed on most spending, but have yet to tackle some major issues, like funding for a statewide preschool program. They’re building toward a plan that they hope both chambers will pass and send to Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Also planned:

— The Senate Education Committee plans a hearing Monday to consider two concurrent resolutions. One would ask the state Board of Education and Education Department to create statewide policies for family-school partnerships in public schools. The other presses for sustainability curriculum in science classes.

— The Senate Transportation and International Affairs committee will hold an informational briefing Monday with Minister Jung-Tzer Lin, Taiwan Executive Yuan Minister. The briefing will discuss the sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Taiwan.

— The Senate agriculture, public safety, technology and water and land committees hold hearings Tuesday on several concurrent resolutions and to confirm appointments for various state posts.