Limits the additional time that an inmate may be sentenced to serve after escaping from a work furlough program and without committing a new crime before voluntarily returning or being apprehended.
Exempts counties and their employees from liability for removing personal property from public property.
Establishes a three-year pilot project that authorizes a vehicle with a single occupant to use the zipper lane for a fee. Appropriates funds to the department of transportation for the pilot project.
Increases maximum fines for violations of the fireworks control law. Appropriates funds for the Department of Public Safety, Sheriff Division, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, and other federal and state agencies, to establish a shipping container inspection program to randomly inspect shipping containers for illegal fireworks and explosives using explosive-sniffing dogs and establishes requirements for the inspection program. Requires the Department of Transportation to assess a fee on all shipping containers to fund the program.
Repeals the standards (1) requiring a liberal interpretation of the state ethics code; and (2) allowing determinations of gifts law violations under the state ethics code based upon an inference of impropriety, to instead require a finding of actual intent to influence the recipient of the gift. Requires state ethics commission advisory opinions to be approved and signed by a majority of the commission members. Requires that 2 of the 5 members of the state ethics commission be appointed by each chamber of the legislature.
Amends the research activity tax credit so that references to the base amount in section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code shall not apply and credit for all qualified research expenses may be taken without regard to the amount of expenses for previous years. Extends the research activity tax credit through 2020.
Proposes amendments to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii relating to the appointment and retention of justices and judges. Authorizes the senate to approve or reject subsequent terms of office for justices and judges. Changes the required time frames from thirty to ninety days for the process to appoint and consent to a justice or judge. Harmonizes the senate consent procedures for district court judgeship nominees to mirror the senate consent procedures relating to supreme court justices and intermediate court of appeals and circuit court judges.
Provides for initiative procedures. Takes effect upon ratification of a constitutional amendment enabling direct initiative.
Removes agricultural buildings located in a special flood hazard area from the exemptions from building permit and building code requirements.
Establishes a Student Bill of Rights for students in public schools.
Establishes the right for a representative of each county council to be present as a non-voting participant in negotiations with bargaining units if the relevant county has employees in the particular bargaining unit. Requires the mayor or mayor's representative to provide timely updates relating to bargaining unit negotiations to the county councils. Amends the number of votes allotted to the Governor for collective bargaining negotiations with units (11) and (12).
Changes the state tax retainer of ten per cent on the county surcharge to two per cent in order to align with actual costs to the State for assessment.
