Retirement changing, other new laws signed by governor

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - You may have to wait a little longer to retire here in Hawaii, thanks to a new bill Governor Abercrombie signed into law Thursday. It's an effort to keep state retirement costs from skyrocketing even more.

Right now, the state is liable for $7 billion in retirement monies. Part of the solution is an older retirement age, plus it'll take longer for state employees to be "vested" in the retirement system.

The governor also signed twelve other bills into law. One bumps your car registration fee up 20 bucks from $25 to $45.

Here is the complete list:

Senate Bill 142 deems dams and reservoirs "important water resources for the State."

Senate Bill 14 allows the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund to go toward dams and reservoirs, as well as water quality testing.

House Bill 200 sends money to the Executive Branch "operating and capital improvement budget" for the next two fiscal years.

House Bill 1020 changes Aloha Tower's boundaries, and "places the Aloha Tower Development Corporation under the Department of Transportation for administrative purposes."

House Bill 117 speeds up construction work in Special Management Areas.

House Bill 555 means judges can assign graffiti artists 100 hours of community service instead of graffiti removal. Plus, it makes the graffiti removal area larger, from 100 yards to 250.

House Bill 593 means county election candidates have to "submit a sworn certification" that they're complying with county provisions.

House Bill 960 will now allow low-income housing candidates to get tax credit loans in lieu of housing tax credits.

House Bill 1368 clarifies politician's applications, clearly outlining nomination filing, and withdrawing

House Bill 1434 "clarifies that a single violation of the prevailing wage law refers to each separate project where the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations finds a contractor in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 104."

House Bill 1447 "amends provisions in the Permitted Transfers in Trust Act (Act 182, SLH 2010) to strengthen Hawaii's trust laws and allow Hawaii to compete with other states in this growing industry."

For more information, you can check out http://capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/.

The governor must either veto or sign all remaining legislative bills into law by July 12th.