Rep. Jackson Sayama

Beginning 11/1/2023, establishes a pre-litigation mediation pilot program that extends the period for a notice of termination of the rental agreement from 5 business days to 10 calendar days, requires landlords to participate in mediation before filing an action for summary possession, and requires landlords to provide specific information in the 10-calendar-day notice to tenants and a mediation center that offers free mediation for residential landlord-tenant disputes. Appropriates funds for a pre-litigation mediation pilot program. Creates and appropriates funds for an emergency rent relief program. Repeals on 11/1/2025. Effective 6/30/3000. (SD2)

Establishes the sustainable food systems working group within the Department of Agriculture. Requires the working group to submit a plan, any recommendations for implementing the plan, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature. Appropriates funds to establish the working group and develop the plan and for an unspecified number of sustainability specialist positions to be employed by the Department of Agriculture. Effective 6/30/3000. (SD2)

Appropriates funds for the Department of Education's Resources for Enrichment, Athletics/Academics, Culture, and Health program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Amends the Criminal Justice Diversion Program including allowing examination of defendants via telehealth. Requires the Judiciary, in consultation with other stakeholders, to submit monthly and annual reports to the Legislature on the effectiveness of agreements for post-booking jail diversion programs for district and circuit court in the first circuit. Amends the allowable period of court-ordered assisted community treatment and considerations for extensions. Allows courts to require certain probation violators to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment as a condition of continued probation. Requires the Department of Health to contract with behavioral health crisis centers and to establish a statewide Hawaiʻi Urgency Response Center. Restores funding for probation officer services for the mental health court. Effective 7/1/3023. (SD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for the continued administration of the Hawaiʻi healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Effective 6/30/3000. (SD1)

Establishes an oral health task force to review the status of oral health in the State and make recommendations to improve the State's oral health infrastructure. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050 and 7/1/2051. (SD2)

Repeals language that gives the director of finance discretion to use moneys in the Hawaiʻi ABLE savings program trust fund if the director elects to accept deposits from contributors instead of sending deposits directly to the ABLE program manager. Authorizes the director of finance to expend moneys in the Hawaiʻi ABLE savings program trust fund to provide incentive payments to Hawaiʻi public school ABLE account owners. Appropriates moneys to fund incentive payments. Establishes and appropriates moneys to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position to provide statewide outreach, advocacy, and relationship management for the Hawaiʻi ABLE savings program. Effective 6/30/2050. (SD2)

Requires the Department of Education to create emergency access plans for each Department school. Requires each Department school to have a comprehensive school evacuation communication plan for use during emergencies. Requires the Department of Education to collaborate with the Department of Transportation to assess all Department school campuses to determine if there are sufficient emergency evacuation routes for each campus and report to the Legislature. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Requires the Director of Transportation to convene an intoxicated driving reduction working group, under the leadership of Hawaiʻi's strategic highway safety plan, to make recommendations for amendments to existing laws to reduce incidents of intoxicated driving. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Facilitates the control and eradication of invasive species and pests. Establishes a plant nursery registration program. Requires the Board of Agriculture to designate certain species as pests for control or eradication. Imposes certain limits on imports and transportation. Updates the method by which the Department's noxious weed list is updated. Takes effect 7/1/3000. (SD1)