About Karl

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Elected in 2006

• Committees
     Chair, Labor & Public Employment
     Education
     Higher Education
     Transportation
     Public Safety

• 2009 Legislation Karl introduced:
     HB61 - Requires the use of the dBC scale for the purpose of community noise control, providing better control of bass sounds than the presently used dBA scale. Status: Companion Senate Bill SB605 passed Senate and House, and was vetoed by the Governor; the veto was overridden.
     HB111 - Limits to two years the time the state can demand repayment of wages it overpaid to employees. Current law limits the time an employee can correct an underpayment to two years while the state has no time limit for collecting overpayments. Status: Passed both House and Senate and became law without the Governor's signature. Note: Karl introduced a similar bill in 2008 as HB1979.
     HCR63 - Urges the Governor to include the Kukui Gardens affordable housing project in the state's list of shovel-ready projects for the President's proposed Economic Stimulus Plan. Status: Resolution adopted in final form.
     HB59 - Would amend the Hawaii Constitution to require candidates for the State Senate or House of Representatives to reside in the district to be represented for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the general election. Status: Passed House.
     HB60 - Would allow reverse beepers on vehicles to be turned off at night, if a person other than the driver is providing guidance. Status: Passed House.
     HB63 - Would prohibit audible motor vehicle alarm systems, except for emergency vehicles. Status: Referred to Transportation and Judiciary Committees.
     HB64 - Would prohibit nighttime operation of powered yard equipment. Status: Passed second reading, referred to Judiciary Committee.
     HB65 - Would prohibit use of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, skateboards, roller skates and the like on sidewalks in the downtown Honolulu business district, with exceptions for the disabled. Status: Passed second reading, referred to Judiciary Committee.
     HB66 - Would prohibit smoking in and around public housing projects, except in designated smoking areas. Status: Referred to Housing, Health and Judiciary Committees.
     HB67 - Would allow condominium and cooperative housing associations to adopt rules prohibiting smoking anywhere in the condo or coop including individually owned units. Status: Referred to Housing, Health, and Consumer Protection & Commerce Committees.
     HB68 - Would ban smoking on public streets and sidewalks. Status: Referred to Transportation, Health and Judiciary Committees.
     HB69 - Would authorize forfeiture of a vehicle used in a prostitution offense, or representing the proceeds of the offense. Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee.
     HB71 - Would determine ownership of privately owned rights of way in Honolulu (such as Akepo and Robello Lanes), so that owners could be held responsible for their maintenance. Status: Deferred by the Committee on Water, Land, and Ocean Resources.
     HB72 - Would specify that a person remaining on the premises of a public housing project after being warned to leave by a proper authority commits a criminal trespass. Status: Passed second reading, referred to Judiciary Committee. Note: Karl introduced an equivalent bill in 2008 as HB1985.
     HB73 - Would require an applicant for a liquor license to wait 3 years after denial before re-applying for the same class of license at the same location. Status: Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business & Military Affairs recommended deferral.
     HB74 - Would re-define disorderly conduct to include obstruction of a bus stop. Status: Judiciary Committee recommended deferral.
     HB75 - Would require a turning driver to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk even if the pedestrian enters the crosswalk after the vehicle begins its turn. Status: Referred to Transportation and Judiciary Committees.
     HB76 - Would establish a $150 fine for traffic-control signal violations (a fine higher than the fine for walking against a light). Status: Passed second reading and referred to Judiciary Committee.
     HB77 - Would provide a GET exemption for the construction of affordable rental housing or community health care facilities within a mixed-use transit-oriented development project. Status: Passed second reading and referred to the Housing and Health Committees.
     HB112 - Would appropriate funds for the ombudsman to develop a pilot program using informed customers to investigate customer service at the Hawaii public housing authority. Status: Referred to Housing, Legislative Management, and Finance Committees.
     HB630 - Would grant state or county agencies access to private real property to paint over graffiti if owner or occupant has not painted over the graffiti within 30 days after notice to do so; and require the attorney general to create an on-line library of graffiti tags to assist in identifying graffiti taggers. Status: Referred to Judiciary and Finance Committees.
     HB993 - Would amend the Hawaii Constitution to require the state to put money in the rainy day fund during good economic times. Status: Passed House.
     HCR62 - Requests that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation create a redevelopment master plan for Kukui Gardens and Mayor Wright Homes. Status: Referred to the Housing Committee, which deferred the measure.
     HCR225 - Urges the United States Department of the Interior to place Iolani Palace on the nomination list to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for World Heritage Site designation. Status: Passed House and referred to Senate Committees on Economic Development and Technology, and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs.

• 2008 Legislation Karl introduced:
     HB2515 - Provides $26 million to finalize the sale of Kukui Gardens to the State, thus preserving these units as affordable housing. Status: Made a part of HB2500 (the State Budget).
     HB1984 - Prohibits consumption of alcohol in common areas of public housing complexes. Status: Companion Senate Bill SB2141 introduced by Senator Chun Oakland signed into law.
     HB1978 - Prohibits public urination and defecation in Downtown Honolulu. Status: Signed into law.
     HB3002 - Increases penalties for “johns” for third and subsequent convictions of soliciting a prostitute. Status:  Signed into law.
     HB1982 - Would have authorized use of anonymous “mystery shoppers” to investigate the quality of service  provided by state agencies. Status: Passed Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Legislative Management.
     HB2263 - Would have authorized the regulation of harbor noise. Status: Vetoed by Governor.
     HB2732 - Would have increased the affordable housing requirement for major developments in Kakaako. Status: The Senate companion, SB2294, passed both Senate and House.
     HB3001 - Would have allowed individuals to sue for excessive noise. Status: Passed Energy and Environmental Protection Committee.
     HB3251 - Would have provided tax relief for construction of affordable housing and community health facilities near transit stations. Status:  Companion bill SB3165, authored by Senator Fukunaga, passed both Senate and House.

• Named Freshman Legislator of the Year for 2007 by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

• 2007 Legislation Karl introduced:
     HB667 - Provides $125 million in general obligation and revenue bonds for the purchase of the Kukui Gardens workforce housing complex. Status:  Signed into Law.
     HCR292 - Designates the Nuuanu - Liliha area as a historic corridor.  A bipartisan effort to improve funding opportunites for historic preservation. Status: Passed.
     HB320 - Increases funding for security at Mayor Wright Homes. Status:  Passed House.
     HCR214 - Would have encouraged the City & County of Honolulu to limit property tax increases to no more than 10% per year. Status: Passed Human Services and Housing Committee.
     HB325 - Would have expanded dental care for lower income adults. Status: Passed House and Senate.
     HB1805 - Would have required the return of an old car battery when purchasing a new one to reduce environmental hazards. Status: Passed Energy and Environmental Protection Committee.

Link to State Legislature Website

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Downtown Neighborhood Board, 10 years

• Chinatown Citizens Patrol, 13 years

• Pacific Gateway Center Board of Directors, 4 years

• Honolulu Tower Board of Directors, 4 years

• Sheridan Citizens Patrol, 3 years

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Legislative Aide, Rep. Marilyn B. Lee, 6 years

• Small business owner (solo law practice), 4 years

• Law practice, Perkin & Hosoda, 2 years

• Legislative Assistant, U.S. Rep. Eliot L. Engel, 3 years

• Legislative Aide, U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, 2 years

• Intern, U.S. Senator John F. Kerry

EDUCATION

• J.D., George Washington University (with Honors), 1996

• Summer clerk, Judge Corinne K.A. Watanabe (Intermediate Court of Appeals), 1995

• M.A., University of London, Soviet & Eastern European Area Studies, 1987

• B.A. Andrews University (History major, Chemistry minor), 1986

PERSONAL

• Happily married to Cindy McMillan for 15 years

• Basketball team, University of London, 1986-87