Updated: 4/20/2020, 7:25 p.m.
The state expects its unemployment insurance fund to run out and is seeking to replenish it, possibly with a federal loan.
State House Speaker Scott Saiki said today that the loan could be zero interest and potentially forgivable. New York has asked for a similar arrangement. Floating bonds would be another option, he said.
Tax Director Rona Suzuki said her department is working with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that processes unemployment claims to determine how much money is left in the fund.
USA Today calculated Hawaii’s unemployment rate at 21.7 percent in a four-week period ending April 11, which would make it the highest in the country. Applicants for state unemployment have been frustrated by the difficulty in submitting claims and learning about the status of their applications.
About 250,000 jobless claims have been filed as businesses laid off or furloughed workers because of the coronavirus crisis.
Plans to staff an unemployment benefits claims processing center at the Hawaii Convention Center are moving ahead, according to Saiki.
He said up to 1,000 workers -- 500 in two shifts -- are envisioned to help with a backlog of jobless claims.
Saiki said House members visited the unemployment office last week to see first hand what has been holding up processing. There is a claims processing center that has been developed in the state library but staffing to cut the backlog remains inadequate at 50 people, the lawmakers found.
The convention center is designating rooms on two floors to ensure social distancing, he said. But the state has only been able to set up 150 computer workstations and will need 500 if it’s to accommodate the two shifts of workers.
Saiki said 75 House members and staff have volunteered to work at the convention center along with about 300 members of public unions, including HGEA, HSTA and UHPA. He said state employees need to do the work because of privacy concerns.
--HPR News Staff
Where Hawaii stands
The state's confirmed and presumed positive coronavirus cases number 584 as of today, up 4 from the previous day, according to the state Department of Health's latest daily update. The death count stands at 10.
Oahu case count is now 385, Maui County 108, Hawaii Island 64, and Kauai 21. No cases are pending determination of county and six were diagnosed out of state.
The heath department said over the weekend that the 10th death was that of an adult male visitor from Washington state between 40 to 59 years old died on Maui. He was hospitalized for an extended period in serious condition at Maui Memorial Medical.
He had no previous medical conditions and his exposure may have been travel-related.
Distance learning in effect for rest of school year
The state Department of Education won’t be holding in-person classes for the rest of the school year. It’s all part of the statewide effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Many teachers didn’t realize that when they said goodbye to their students before spring break, that it would be for good. Logan Okita, a first-grade teacher at Nimitz Elementary School, is among them.
"I miss my students tremendously but this decision will keep our students safe. I didn’t think that when I said goodbye to them on March 13th that it was for the end of the year," she said. "I’ve sent post cards, I record read- aloud videos and I check in as often as they are able to as first-graders. I know that our teachers are trying to create a sense of normalcy when this isn’t normal for any of us."
The DOE is currently using a mixed approach of online learning and hard copy packets that students can pick up. That will continue until the school year ends on May 28.
Yesterday's Hawaii Updates: Maui Memorial, McDonald's clusters grow; Judiciary postpones trials; Hana checkpoints set up
Students’ final grades for the year will be based on their performance through March -- before the crisis closed the schools.
For students who currently aren’t passing, teachers will use distance learning to work with them through May and possibly into summer.
"We are focusing on our secondary school," said School Superintendent Christina Kishimoto. "So from sixth, seventh grade on through our 11th graders and 12th graders who may need to finish up credits. That will be through distance learning online. It will be a combination of credit recovery opportunities, and we're going to ... be waiving the cost to families for that credit recovery to support students during this time period."
The DOE stands to get about $43 million from the federal stimulus package. The funds will pay for technology and internet access for students as well as expanded summer school.
For younger students who aren’t meeting expectations, the DOE is still developing a plan for the remainder of the school year.
--HPR's Ashley Mizuo
Senators weigh legal action to get department information
A special Senate committee is considering legal action to obtain budget information from state departments.
The governor’s chief of staff, Linda Chu Takayama, presented the committee with initial plans that would guide the economic recovery along with changes to the state budget in the face of a $1.5 billion projected shortfall.
State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, chair of the Senate's Ways and Means Committee, told Takayama he had asked for proposed budget cuts from every department.
But Takayama said the administration advised the departments to give that information to the governor’s office and the Budget and Finance Department first.
Dela Cruz wasn’t pleased.
"I don’t understand why you are continuing to filter and censor and delay information. You’re not really allowing the Legislature to help if you don’t allow the departments to give us the information we need," he said.
Takayama said the administration wanted to make sure that budget officials had the information as well and that it was correct.
"That’s our kuleana. If they send us information, and we think it’s not adequate, we will follow up with the department. But this is the third time that you censored information. And really, what do we have to do? Subpoena the information directly from the departments?" Dela Cruz said.
The committee then discussed possible legal actions with state Attorney General Clare Connors.
Connors said she would provide guidance at a later date.
--HPR's Casey Harlow
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Editor's note: We’d like to hear how you’re coping with the latest developments in dealing with the spread of the coronavirus. You can call our talkback line at 808-792-8217. Or e-mail us at talkback@hawaiipublicradio.org.
