Rep. Terez Amato

Establish within the Department of Human Services' Child Care Assistance Program, a Child Care Accreditation Program to support licensed or registered child care providers to obtain accreditation from a national early learning accrediting organization. Extends the deadline by which unaccredited service providers of the Preschool Open Doors Program must commence the accreditation process and obtain accreditation. Appropriate funds.

Authorizes physician assistants to sign orders for respiratory therapy and plans of care. Expands the class of health care providers under whom respiratory therapists may practice respiratory care to include physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a two-year infant and toddler child care contracted slots pilot program to develop and implement procedures to subsidize child care slots in licensed infant and toddler child care settings. Requires reports to the legislature.

Requires county police departments to provide training, in collaboration with the Department of Health and University of Hawaiʻi, to officers having contact with individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health issues including substance use, or mental health issues. Appropriates funds for coordinated and collaborative activities including training, referrals to service providers, and technical assistance. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Appropriates moneys to the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation to retain the services of a consultant to prepare a financial sustainability plan for the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation and its member regions. Appropriates moneys.

Authorizes health care providers, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and faith-based organizations to distribute supplemental nutrition assistance program applications to anyone interested in applying for program benefits. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Requires health insurance coverage for various sexual and reproductive health care services.

Reestablishes the Long-Term Care Commission within the University of Hawaiʻi College of Social Sciences' Social Science Research Institute to identify further needed reforms of Hawaiʻi's long-term care system. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/30/2050. (SD1)

Makes various updates to the hospital sustainability program, including amending the definition of "private hospital"; clarifying the uses of the hospital sustainability program special fund; increasing various hospital sustainability fee caps; requiring DHS to consult and negotiate with the hospital trade association regarding fee participation and rates; clarifying when the hospital sustainability fee shall be discontinued and the distribution of remaining funds; repealing the sunset dates of Act 217, SLH 2012, and Act 123, SLH 2014, to make the program permanent and permanently exempting the program from the central service and administrative expenses assessments; and appropriating funds out of the special fund. Effective 06/30/3000. (HD1)

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Hawaiʻi teacher apprenticeship program to support, recruit, develop, and retain teachers for Hawaiʻi public schools. Establishes the Hawaiʻi teacher apprenticeship program special fund. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)