Requires health insurance policies and contracts issued on or after 01/01/2024 to provide coverage for the cost of hearing aids at a minimum of $1,500 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every thirty-six months. Effective 01/01/2024.
Requires the department of human services to develop a preschool child care worker subsidy pilot program to assist in retaining qualified child care workers in licensed child care facilities for preschool children aged two through five. Sunsets 6/30/2026. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)
Establishes the prevent suicide Hawaiʻi taskforce within the Department of Health. Requires the task force to make annual recommendations to the Legislature on ways to reduce suicide rates in the State by 25% by 2025. Dissolves the task force on 1/1/2027.
For policies, contracts, plans, agreements, and plan contracts issued or renewed after 12/31/2023, requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services.
Establishes the Public Education Scholarship Program within the University of Hawaiʻi to provide students who are residents of the State with school tuition in return for a service commitment to teach in a public school classroom of the Department of Education or Hawaiʻi public charter school, under certain conditions. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/30/3000. (SD1)
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.
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.
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.
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 Hawaiʻi teacher standards board the Hawaiʻi 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.
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)
