Rep. Lisa Marten

Requires the office of the lieutenant governor to convene a working group to examine the feasibility of establishing and implementing a kauhale pilot program based on specified criteria to provide shelter and other services to homeless individuals in the State and to submit a report of the working group's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature prior to the regular session of 2024.

Establishes licensure for school psychologists consistent with National Association of School Psychologists standards. Clarifies that the exemptions from licensure as a psychologist apply to those persons employed as school psychologists by an educational institution and practicing only within a school setting. Prohibits private practice by school psychologists. Renames the Hawaii teacher standards board the Hawaii teacher standards and school psychologists board; amends the composition of the board to include two school psychologists and requires the board to submit a report to the legislature. Sunsets 7/1/2026.

Exempts from the general excise tax, gross receipts received from the sale of hearing aids.

Requires the Department of Health to post on its website separate reports for various visits, violations, plans, and confirmations the Department performs or issues of certain care facilities. Establishes deadlines for each report type. Requires the Department of Health to log all reports in a database designed for easy public posting. Requires all facilities inspected by the Department of Health to maintain certain records and notify the Executive Office on Aging, Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and appropriate county offices on aging of initial inspection visit dates.

Establish within the Department of Human Services' Child Care Assistance Program, a Child Care Accreditation Program to support licensed or registered child care providers to obtain accreditation from a national early learning accrediting organization. Extends the deadline by which unaccredited service providers of the Preschool Open Doors Program must commence the accreditation process and obtain accreditation. Appropriate funds.

Amends certain publication procedures to require the publication of information to be on the appropriate state or county department's website, rather than in a newspaper.

Conforms statutory prohibitions against wage discrimination with other prohibitions on employment discrimination. Clarifies allowable justifications for compensation differentials and remedies for pay disparity. Requires employers to disclose wage ranges to employees and prospective employees. Exempts wage disclosure and discussion from the prohibitions on employer retaliation or discrimination if knowledge of the wages stems from human resources, payroll, or legal professional responsibilities in the workplace.

Increases the amount of the personal exemption for taxable income years beginning after 12/31/2023. Requires the personal exemption to be increased biannually based on any increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for Honolulu for the most recent two-year period.