Rep. May Mizuno

Appropriates funds to satisfy state and federal class action settlement agreements requiring the Department of Human Services to implement a foster care maintenance payment system that complies with the federal Child Welfare Act, to increase clothing allowance payments, to reimburse certain caregivers and beneficiaries for past inadequate benefit payments, and comply with additional settlement terms. (HB2211 HD1)

Authorizes the Department of Human Services to contract the services of a dedicated capture manager responsible for securing grant and other funding opportunities for the Department of Human Services. Makes an appropriation. (HB1894 HD1)

Establishes the homelessness special fund. Establishes a community shelter commission in each county. Raises the conveyance tax and directs revenues toward experimental or demonstration housing projects administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and homeless facilities and programs administered by the Department of Human Services.

Requires DHS, in collaboration with DOH, to review the progress of the Hawaii pathways project pilot and continue to pursue efforts to utilize medicaid to provide supportive housing services for chronically homeless individuals. Provides considerations for DHS in planning for the expansion of supportive housing services provided through medicaid managed care plans. Requires DHS to report to the legislature. Makes an appropriation.

Amends various provisions of the HRS to increase protections for child victims of sex trafficking, prostitution, and commercial exploitation by increasing penalties for offenders and habitual offenders. Among other things, amends the offense of sex trafficking to impose criminal liability on a person who solicits a minor for prostitution and by imposing strict liability with respect to the age of the minor.

Amends the offense of abuse of family or household members to provide for felony, misdemeanor, and petty misdemeanor penalties. Expands the family court's jurisdiction over certain enumerated offenses committed against family or household members. Repeals the prohibition on deferred acceptance of guilty or no contest pleas in cases involving abuse of family or household members. Requires that no-contact and stay-away orders issued during the pendency of a criminal case or as a condition of probation be enforced regardless of whether the defendant signed a written acknowledgment of the order, provided that the defendant was informed on the record of the terms and conditions of the order in open court. Requires that no-contact and stay-away orders issued during the pendency of trial cases involving abuse of family or household members or certain enumerated offenses be automatically converted after the defendant's conviction to a new protective order that shall remain in effect for a fixed reasonable period as the court deems appropriate, unless the victim or witness requests otherwise.

Upon approval by a county land use decision-making authority, and with concurrence from the Land Use Commission, requires boundary amendments reflected in county land use plans to be adopted in accordance with such approved plans. (HB1866 HD1)

Creates a $50,000,000 revolving line of credit sub-fund under the umbrella of the green energy market securitization loan fund for any state agency or department to finance energy efficiency measures.