Rep. Della Belatti

Establishes a Hawaii Beach Preservation Special Fund. Authorizes the DLNR to expend moneys from the Special Fund to acquire lands for beach preservation with prior authorization of the Legislature. Creates a working group within the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to determine appropriate funding mechanisms for the Special Fund. Establishes a three-year North Shore Oahu Pilot Program under DLNR to explore managed retreat options. Appropriates funds. (HB2468 HD2)

Requires insurance coverage after December 31, 2018, for the costs of medically necessary transportation to the continental United States for medical treatment for qualifying patients. Requires the auditor to conduct a study to assess the social and financial impacts of mandating certain health insurers and plans to provide coverage for the costs of medically necessary transportation to the continental United States for medical treatment for qualifying patients. (HB687 HD2)

Makes unlawful shipment of tobacco products to anyone other than a licensee. Includes e-liquid within the definition of "tobacco products", as used in the cigarette tax and tobacco tax law, thereby making all provisions of the cigarette tax and tobacco tax law that relate to tobacco products applicable to e-liquid as well. Increases the license fee for wholesalers or dealers and the retail tobacco permit fee. (HB2492 HD1)

Designates the month of April of each year as the Hawaii Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.

Expands eligibility and credit amount of the low income-household renters' income tax credit. Appropriates funds for the continued administration of the family assessment center for homeless families and for a housing homeless children rental assistance pilot program. Authorizes adoption of interim rules and procurement of services by federally-certified financial counselors without regard to chapters 91 and 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, respectively. (HB2751 HD1)

Appropriates funds for a position to increase school-health coordination in the Department of Education. Establishes evidence-based screenings and assessment for school vision, oral health, and behavioral health. Effective 7/1/3000. (HB2185 HD2)

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the counties to form a Marine Debris Working Group, with other interested parties, to resolve jurisdictional issues between the State and counties regarding the removal of marine debris and provide coordination between state and county agencies that ensures the cleanup of marine debris from Hawaii's beaches and shorefronts. Establishes a Marine Debris Special Fund to provide funding to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the removal of marine debris from shorelines and nearshore waters. (HB2625 HD2)

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish a housing voucher program for full-time classroom teachers employed by the Department of Education or by a public charter school. (HB2166 HD1)

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds with the funds to be deposited into the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund and the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. (HB2743 HD1)

Requires the PUC to adopt rules adopting federal energy efficiency and water conservation standards. Makes the rules effective if the federal government repeals current federal energy efficiency and water conservation standards.