Rep. Gene Ward

Requires all private schools to develop and implement comprehensive action plans for the management of anaphylaxis in their respective schools, including administration of auto-injectable epinephrine. Establishes certain immunity from liability for designated private school employees and agents who administer auto-injectable epinephrine during emergencies.

Establishes the safe routes to school advisory committee within the Planning Branch of the Highways Division of the Department of Transportation. Appropriates moneys.

Prohibits the distribution, sale, and provision of plastic straws, except for those who request single-use plastic straws for medical reasons. Establishes a fine for violators. Takes effect 1/1/2024.

Establishes the offense of possession of a loaded firearm while intoxicated as a petty misdemeanor.

Authorizes the issuance of special number plates to commemorate Carissa Kainani Moore.

Establishes the shipping container inspection program and shipping container inspection program special fund. Increases the maximum fine for each violation of the fireworks law. Requires PSD to submit reports to the legislature on implementation of the shipping container inspection program.

Expands the investigative authority of DHS to include families with foster children with a pending adoption decree or for whom an adoption decree has been issued but adoption has not yet taken place, children who are placed into legal guardianship and who receive permanency assistance payments, and adopted children who receive adoption assistance payments, and against whom a complaint has been filed with DHS at any time. Requires DHS to analyze and report on the impact of expanding home visits to families receiving adoption assistance or legal guardianship assistance. Establishes the Malama Ohana working group to seek, design, and recommend transformative changes to the State's child welfare system. Appropriates funds to increase the procurement of contracted services to provide additional support, resources, and monitoring of families receiving benefits from the State's adoption assistance and permanency assistance programs. (CD1)

Establishes a statewide working group on affordable housing to foster increased inter-agency coordination on housing and zoning issues, raise public awareness of ongoing state and county efforts to reduce barriers to affordable housing development, and propose legislation. Requires an annual report to the legislature. Appropriates funds to support the statewide working group, including one full-time equivalent position. (CD1)

Establishes the misdemeanor offense of theft of mail. (SD1)

Exempts the instream use of water for traditional and customary kalo cultivation practices from the existing process for disposition of water rights. Recognizes, confirms, and protects traditional and customary and kuleana rights to water, including rights of use, access, delivery, and quality of water. (CD1)