Rep. Dee Morikawa

Amends the child abuse and neglect reporting requirement to specify that a member of the clergy shall not be required to report information gained solely during a penitential communication, unless exigent circumstances exist that justify disclosure of the abuse or neglect. Specifies that the general rule of privilege applicable to confidential communications made to a member of the clergy does not apply to communications relating to known or suspected child abuse or neglect when exigent circumstances exist that justify disclosure of the abuse or neglect.

Designates ohia lehua as the state endemic tree. Effective 7/1/2044. (HD1)

Appropriates moneys to support the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. Effective 7/1/2044. (HD1)

Makes the new construction of affordable housing eligible for exemption from environmental impact statement and environmental assessment requirements if it meets certain requirements.

Makes the state earned income tax credit refundable and permanent. Allows nonrefundable state earned income tax credits claimed for certain taxable years that exceeded tax liability for the original claim year to be credited against net tax liability in subsequent years until exhausted, up to the end of the 2022 tax year.

Requires the department of education to construct and implement sensory rooms for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in all public schools. Appropriates funds for the planning, design, and construction of the sensory rooms. Appropriates funds for special education teachers to staff the sensory rooms.

Establishes a fire safety working group to determine if a full-time state fire marshal's office would be more effective than the existing state fire council in planning, executing, and promoting fire safety-related programs and topics in the State. Requires the working group to submit a report to the legislature prior to the regular session of 2023. Effective 12/25/2040. (HD1)

Amends the minimum qualifications for board of education members. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

Specifies that the allocation of the state bond ceiling to the State shall be used entirely for housing related projects. Requires counties that elect to receive their allocation to do so by resolution and specify the allocation amount requested. Removes the authorization for counties or issuers to request additional allocations of the state bond ceiling. Prioritizes projects of counties that assign their allocation back to the State over projects of counties with their own private activity bond issuance program. Requires counties or issuers that retain their allocation to submit quarterly reports on the status or use of any allocation. Requires a project to first apply to the county in which the project is located, if the county has a private activity bond issuance program, before applying to the State. Changes the dates for reverted or remaining allocations and requires certain reverted or remaining allocations to be used for housing related projects. Sunsets on 12/31/2027.

Creates a task force to conduct a census of COFA residents in Hawaii. Effective 7/1/2044. (HD1)