Rep. Mark Nakashima

Establishes a zero-emission vehicle fleet purchasing assistance program within the Hawaii state energy office to support the transition of private fleets to zero-emission vehicles. Designates the Hawaii state energy office as the agency responsible for developing and administering the program and requires the Hawaii state energy office to work with the department of transportation to design strategies to implement the zero-emission vehicle fleet purchasing assistance program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the board of education to adopt and the department of education to administer a kindergarten entry assessment in ‘Olelo Hawai‘i for Kaiapuni schools. Delays the administration of the kindergarten entry assessment in ‘Olelo Hawai‘i for Kaiapuni schools to the 2026-2027 school year.

Establishes a visitor green fee program that requires that visitors purchase a license which is valid for one year for the use of a state park, beach, state-owned forest, hiking trail on state-owned land, or other state-owned natural area, to be administered by the department of land and natural resources. Establishes a visitor green fee special fund, into which shall be deposited fees, penalties, appropriations, and gifts and donations for the program. Establishes an environmental legacy commission, which shall be responsible for allocating disbursements and awarding grants from the visitor green fee special fund for the protection, restoration, enhancement, care, and increased resilience of Hawaii's natural and outdoor recreational resources. Appropriates fund for the establishment of the environmental legacy commission and a strategic plan. Requires annual reports to the legislature on the progress of the program.

Repeals the exemption granted to churches by Act 22, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, relating to bonding requirements and fee requirements for licenses, renewals, and reinstatements of licenses applicable to cemeteries and funeral trusts. Clarifies that the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs shall exempt any cemetery authority from the bonding requirement and the fee requirements for license, renewal, and reinstatement upon proof satisfactory to the Director that the cemetery authority does not sell for financial profit. Effective retroactively to 09/15/2020.

Appropriates funds to DHS to restore basic adult dental benefits to medicaid enrollees. Requires DHS to obtain the maximum federal matching funds available for this expenditure.

Establishes the 2023 illegal fireworks task force within the department of the attorney general to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives into the State, promote compliance with the fireworks control law; and ensure the safety and security of airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the State against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives. Requires a report to the legislature.

Establishes licensure for school psychologists consistent with National Association of School Psychologists standards. Clarifies that the exemptions from licensure as a psychologist apply to those persons employed as school psychologists by an educational institution and practicing only within a school setting. Prohibits private practice by school psychologists. Renames the Hawaii teacher standards board the Hawaii teacher standards and school psychologists board; amends the composition of the board to include two school psychologists and requires the board to submit a report to the legislature. Sunsets 7/1/2026.

Requires the Department of Health to post on its website separate reports for various visits, violations, plans, and confirmations the Department performs or issues of certain care facilities. Establishes deadlines for each report type. Requires the Department of Health to log all reports in a database designed for easy public posting. Requires all facilities inspected by the Department of Health to maintain certain records and notify the Executive Office on Aging, Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and appropriate county offices on aging of initial inspection visit dates.

Amends the competitive sealed bidding process for construction projects to require joint contractors and subcontractors to submit their bids to a bid depository established under DCCA. Authorizes joint contractors and subcontractors to submit different bids to different general contractors bidding on the project. Requires all bids submitted by joint contractors and subcontractors to be held in the bid depository and withheld from the general contractors until twenty-four hours before the closing of the invitation for bids. Requires general contractors to use only the bids timely submitted by joint contractors and subcontractors to the bid depository in their construction bid and imposes fines for violations. Requires DCCA to adopt rules specifying how the bid depository shall operate.

Establishes deadlines for paying or contesting provider bills related to workers' compensation injury treatment.