This bill establishes the State of Well-Being Project to assess and improve mental health support services across Hawaii. The legislation creates a two-tiered system where Tier 1 provides general wellness training for all employees in schools, law enforcement, and healthcare, while Tier 2 offers specialized, culturally responsive care for high-risk groups within those organizations. By mandating these integrated support services, the bill aims to address mental illness more effectively and reduce related issues like substance abuse and homelessness.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii on June 27, 2024, allows nurses licensed in other states to work temporarily in Hawaii while they complete the process to obtain a full state license. It creates a new temporary permit system for out-of-state practical and registered nurses who have valid licenses elsewhere and have no pending disciplinary actions. Nurses can now apply for this temporary permit at the same time as their full license application starting July 1, 2025, paying only one fee for both requests. The temporary permit is valid for up to six months if applied for separately or up to one year if applied for simultaneously with a full license.
This bill, known as Act 100, allows pharmacists in Hawaii to refill up to a 30-day supply of a patient's prescription without a doctor's authorization during a declared state of emergency. The law applies specifically to individuals directly impacted by the emergency, such as those facing travel restrictions or clinic closures, and requires pharmacists to make every reasonable effort to contact the prescribing practitioner before dispensing the medication. Pharmacists must inform the patient and notify the doctor within 24 hours of the refill, while the doctor is protected from liability for these actions. The provision explicitly excludes controlled substances from this emergency refill authority.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green, allows out-of-state pharmacies to send prescription details to Hawaii pharmacies so that patients visiting the state can immediately fill their medications without delays. The law specifically permits the transfer of information for initial prescription fills and refills, addressing a previous gap where local pharmacists had to contact out-of-state doctors for verbal orders. Under the new rules, pharmacists must inform patients that their original prescription can be canceled and must record specific details from the out-of-state pharmacy, such as the original date and number of refills. This change aims to streamline the process for travelers needing acute medications like antibiotics while ensuring all necessary prescription data is properly documented.
This bill, signed into law as Act 109, reorganizes the state's transportation infrastructure by consolidating various agencies under a single Department of Transportation. The key changes include abolishing the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission, the Board of Harbor Commissioners, and the Highway Commission, while transferring their functions to the new department. Additionally, the law grants the department expanded authority to acquire, own, and manage property specifically for climate mitigation, noise reduction, and other transportation projects. These provisions aim to streamline operations and provide a unified structure for managing the state's highways, airports, and harbors.
This bill informs the legislature that Governor Josh Green signed HB2444 into law on June 27, 2024. The law authorizes various state and county agencies to conduct criminal history record checks on applicants and employees in specific roles involving vulnerable populations. These roles include working in healthcare facilities, child care centers, schools, liquor administration, and correctional facilities. The bill does not create new criminal offenses or penalties but rather expands the authority of existing agencies to verify the backgrounds of individuals in these positions.
This bill, known as Act 117, amends Hawaii laws regarding motor carriers to transfer regulatory authority from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Transportation. The key change redefines who counts as an "enforcement officer," explicitly including Department of Transportation motor vehicle safety officers who can issue civil penalties for violations. Additionally, the law updates references throughout relevant statutes to ensure the Department of Transportation is the correct agency cited for investigations, reporting requirements, and record-keeping rules.
This bill appropriates $210,150 from the state's general revenues to expand a mental health technician training program at the University of Hawaii Windward Community College. The funds are designated to hire two temporary faculty positions for curriculum development and student outreach, as well as to establish a scholarship program for unemployed or low-wage individuals seeking to enter the mental health field. By supporting this short-term certificate of competence program, the legislation aims to address the statewide shortage of mental health providers by upskilling existing workers and creating a pathway to higher qualifications. The money will be used to offer the course both in-person and online across the state, with the goal of increasing the number of qualified staff available to serve Hawaii residents.
This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Health to create a crisis intervention and diversion program aimed at helping individuals with mental health or substance use issues avoid the criminal justice system. The program will work with law enforcement and courts to redirect people facing charges for offenses like public intoxication or loitering into appropriate health care services instead. Key provisions allow the department to lease or build a behavioral health crisis center and define the role of mental health emergency workers in stabilizing individuals. Additionally, the bill requires the department to conduct statewide assessments of service needs and establish rules for defining geographical service areas for mental health and substance abuse care.
This bill informs the legislature that the Governor signed Act 111 into law, which designates the University of Hawaii's chief financial officer as the chief procurement officer for the university system. The legislation extends the expiration date for this designation from June 30, 2021, to June 30, 2028, ensuring the CFO retains this authority for all procurement contracts under Chapter 103D of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. By centralizing procurement authority with the CFO, the bill aims to address concerns regarding the prudent and transparent management of public funds within the university. This change applies specifically to the University of Hawaii system and its purchasing processes, replacing previous arrangements that had shifted procurement oversight to the state procurement office for certain construction-related contracts.
This bill directs the Governor to inform the legislature that he has signed HB2042 into law, officially designating it as Act 102. The legislation appropriates $900,000 from the state's general revenues for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to fund youth mental health and wellness services. These funds are allocated to the Department of Health's child and adolescent mental health division to contract for services aimed at supporting at-risk youth, including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The act takes effect on July 1, 2024, and is based on findings that the pandemic has negatively impacted the mental well-being of young people in Hawaii.
This bill expands workers' compensation medical benefits in Hawaii to cover breast cancer and cancers of the female reproductive organs for firefighters who have worked at least five years. The law applies to firefighters who have been diagnosed with various other cancers, such as leukemia or lung cancer, and ensures their employers pay for medical care at rates between 110% and 150% of Medicare fees. By adding these specific conditions to the list of covered illnesses, the legislation aims to provide broader and more comprehensive medical support for female firefighters facing occupational health risks.
