Rep. Richard Onishi

Requires the representative of labor on the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to be a person whose name has been selected by a simple majority of the exclusive representatives of the collective bargaining units and submitted to the Governor for appointment. Requires the Governor to submit the name of the nominee to the Senate for advice and consent no later than twenty days after exclusive representatives' submittal of the nominee's name to the Governor, and if the Governor fails to do so, requires the exclusive representatives who recommended the nominee to transmit the nominee's name directly to the Senate for confirmation. (SD1)

Allows the Department of Agriculture to extend the agricultural park lease of any lessee who holds a lease with a remaining term of 15 years or less; provided that the land covered by the lease is 25 acres or less and located in a county with a population of less than 500,000. (SD1)

Establishes "employment first" as a policy of the State and counties. Defines "employment first" as the competitive employment and full inclusion of persons with a disability in an integrated setting as a first and preferred option for employment services. Requires state and county agencies to implement this policy in hiring practices and all programs and services administered or funded by the State or counties. Beginning June 30, 2023, requires the department of human services to apply employment first principles to Medicaid home and community-based services programs. (CD1)

Permits, but does not require or prohibit, medicaid, health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to cover telephonic behavioral health services under certain circumstances. Clarifies that telephonic services do not constitute telehealth. (CD1)

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)

Eliminates the use of monetary bail and requires defendants to be released on their own recognizance for certain nonviolent offenses, subject to certain exclusions. Requires the department of public safety to take steps to provide videoconferencing to a defendant who chooses to participate in a bail report interview via videoconference. (CD1)

Amends the definition of "Adequate Reserve Fund" to exclude the benefit cost rate from June 2020 through August 2021, for calendar years 2023 through 2030. (SD2)

Provides funds to the department of Hawaiian home lands to pursue a multi-pronged approach to eliminating its waitlist. Requires the department of Hawaiian home lands to develop a strategic plan to address applicant preferences. Requires an annual report. (CD1)

Requires annual reporting by the University of Hawaii, department of education, and state public charter school commission to the legislature on the number and types of Title IX cases and other relevant information. Appropriates funds to the department of education for equity training. (CD1)