State House and Senate lawmakers, in a vote just before a midnight deadline, agreed to a bill that would allow the state to acquire and preserve Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore.

The Lingle administration is in negotiations with private investors on the sale of the hotel, golf courses and other developed portions of the 880-acre resort. The idea is to use proceeds of the sale of the developed land to finance the preservation of undeveloped land such as Kawela Bay and Kahuku Point.

The Lingle administration does not need the bill to proceed with the negotiations, but wants a symbolic show of support from the state Legislature.

Even though the bill made the deadline for final consideration last night, its passage next week is not assured. Several senators are concerned about committing to a purchase of the resort without greater detail, while some

majority Democrats want to put some distance between the Legislature and Republican Gov. Linda Lingle on the issue.

Lingle has said she would likely call lawmakers back into special session to consider a purchase deal if one develops after the Legislature adjourns on Thursday.

"We feel it would be an affirmation," said Linda Smith, the governor's senior policy adviser.

State Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), and state Rep. Michael Magaoay, D-46th (Schofield, Mokule'ia, North Shore), helped broker negotiations with House and Senate leaders last night when it appeared the bill might not move.

The bill would authorize the Lingle administration to spend up to $250,000 on the negotiations but does not otherwise commit any other state money.

"This bill is very significant in that it shows that the legislators are willing to create new statutory law to authorize her to move forward. That's the significance of the bill," said Hee, the chairman of the Senate Water and Land Committee.

Magaoay, the chairman of the House Legislative Management Committee, urged members of a working group studying the purchase and preservationists on the North Shore to contact lawmakers in support of the bill over the next few days.

"Right now, I'm so so glad that we finally got it passed through," he said, adding that a potential Turtle Bay purchase is a positive at a time of economic uncertainty and budget restrictions.

Lawmakers also took steps last night to acquire agricultural lands owned by Galbraith Estate in Central O'ahu.

State Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa), and state Sen. Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), have identified Galbraith's 2,100 acres north of Mililani near Wahiawa as historic agricultural land. Much of the land had been leased to Del Monte Fresh Produce for its pineapple crop.

The Turtle Bay and Galbraith Estate decisions came late last night as lawmakers worked to meet a midnight deadline to have bills prepared for final votes next week.

Lawmakers reached agreement on other potentially significant pieces of legislation. Although this time at the end of session is always hectic, conference committee negotiations yesterday were influenced by spending restrictions imposed by House and Senate leadership because of the state's slowing economy.

Lawmakers endorsed more than $800 million for a harbors modernization plan that will be overseen by the Aloha Tower Development Corp. Some in the Senate had questioned whether the corporation is capable of handling the project and wanted to set up a new entity within the state Department of Transportation, but the House disagreed.

The six-year harbors plan is a priority of both the Lingle administration and majority Democrats and would upgrade harbors, particularly Kahului Harbor on Maui, which have been squeezed for space by increasing passenger and cargo traffic.

Lawmakers also agreed to spend $5.7 million to help reimburse hospitals that treat the uninsured, a state commitment that will attract another $7.5 million in federal money. Another $1 million in state money will go to provide healthcare at community health centers and rural clinics that serve the poor.

"It's critical for the hospitals because they are all having financial difficulty," said state Rep. Marilyn Lee, D-38th (Mililani, Mililani Mauka),the vice chair of the House Finance Committee. "It's very important. It's one of the most important bills we'll pass."

In response to the beating death of a Kailua woman by her estranged boyfriend in January, lawmakers have agreed to an electronic monitoring program for domestic abusers. But, in an example of the lack of available money, lawmakers approved no new spending for the program.

Instead, judges will have the discretion to decide whether defendants have the means to pay for electronic monitoring, which is about a $1,000 a year. The program would also expire in two years.

"We're trying to give victims fair warning that their perpetrators are in the area, stalking them," said state Rep. Maile Shimabukuro, D-45th (Wai'anae, Makaha, Makua), the chairwoman of the House Human Services and Housing Committee.

On education, lawmakers agreed to form an Early Learning Council to launch an early childhood education program. A task force recommended a 10-year plan to offer early childhood education at an estimated cost of $170 million, with about $10 million starting next fiscal year.

But even lawmakers who support the idea thought that figure was too high and, ultimately, only the money to create the council was approved.

"It finally establishes a system and indicates the involvement of government in making sure that we create a quality system for preschool children in our state," said state Rep. Roy Takumi, D-36th (Pearl City, Momilani, Pacific Palisades), the chairman of the House Education Committee.

Lawmakers also agreed to create a commission that will look at public schools that can be closed or consolidated because of declining enrollment and recommend potential new school construction.

Lawmakers agreed to require ignition lock devices in automobiles for repeat drunken drivers or first-time offenders with high blood-alcohol content.

"This device is going to save lives," said state Rep. Sharon Har, D-40th (Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei), who was in a car accident and injured by a drunken driver last year.

Lawmakers also approved a new $1 million for pedestrian safety to respond to a spate of pedestrian fatalities. The Lingle administration refused to release $3 million set aside for pedestrian safety last session because it came out of the state's highway fund.