Requires the department of labor and industrial relations to report U-6 figures alongside U-3 figures in the main text of reports and press releases related to the State's unemployment rate.
Requires the driver of a slow-moving motor vehicle on a two-lane highway where passing or overtaking is unsafe or not permitted to pull over at the nearest reasonable and safe location to allow other motor vehicles to overtake the driver if five or more motor vehicles are immediately trailing behind the driver.
Short form bill relating to workers' compensation.
Expands the definition of "administrative action" in lobbyist law to include granting or denying applications for business or development-related permits, licenses, or approvals and procurement of goods and services under Hawaii public procurement code. Clarifies that lobbying laws apply to lobbying by the executive branch.
Clarifies that sewage treatment plants that produce energy using clean energy technology or determine that clean energy technology is not viable or feasible at the plant, rather than sewage treatment plants that use sewage to produce clean energy, are exempt from the law prohibiting the discharge of treated or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2026.
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.
