Rep. Sam Kong

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for plans and design of a veterans' memorial, and replicas of the memorial on each neighbor island, as recommended by the Gulf War memorial task force pursuant to Act 139, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the department of public safety, in collaboration with the office of Hawaiian affairs, to create a Native Hawaiian rehabilitation program for prison inmates that puts an emphasis on preserving Native Hawaiian values and cultural practices. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Clarifies that the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority's duties include supporting aquaculture. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Authorizes candidates of inactive campaigns and their candidate committees to donate residual campaign funds to the State or the counties.

Establishes a working group within the department of accounting and general services to study and recommend to the legislature improvements to the management of the state procurement office and methods of procurement, particularly in the area of natural resource management. Requires a report prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.

Requires the board of education to hold no less than six community forums annually, with at least one forum in each county. Makes board member attendance at community forums permitted interactions under certain circumstances. Requires the board to include an open forum for public comments on non-agenda items. Requires a report to the legislature on implementing open forums at board of education meetings. (HD1)

Establishes within the judiciary a five-year recidivism prevention pilot program consisting of three components: a housing voucher program, child care voucher program, and income tax credit for employers to assist the reentry efforts of certain individuals who exited the Women's Community Correctional Center, for two years after the exit. Establishes five transition navigator positions within the judiciary. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Repeals 7/1/27. (HD1)

Renames the workforce development council the workforce development board. Requires the state workforce development board and local workforce development boards to develop conflict of interest policies. Amends the composition and powers of the board. Effective 7/1/2023.

Requires DBEDT to provide support services to new businesses. Establishes a separate general excise tax rate for a business's first five years of operation. Exempts a business from paying any fees related to licensing and registration within its first five years of operation. Allows individuals to continue to receive unemployment benefits while in the process of starting a business. Requires the state procurement office to advise government bodies to allocate at least five percent of funding to procure goods and services from new businesses in the State. Prohibits savings and loan associations from requiring a signed confession of judgment from a small business as a condition of receiving a loan.