Enacts voting by mail uniformly across all counties for all elections commencing in 2020, and allows any election to be conducted by mail prior to the 2020 primary election, in whole or in part, as determined by the chief election officer or county clerk, as appropriate. Establishes a limited number of voter service centers that would remain open from the tenth business day preceding an election through the day of the election to receive personal delivery of mail-in ballots, accommodate voters with special needs, offer same day registration and voting, and provide other election services. Allows for additional places of deposit for personal delivery of mail-in ballots. Appropriates funds for the implementation and administration of the election by mail program. Requires the office of elections to submit a report to the legislature prior to the convening of each regular session from 2019 through 2024, regarding the implementation of a vote by mail system. Takes effect on 1/1/2020.
Sponsored bills
Prohibits the planting of a genetically engineered seed or plant part in an open field. Allows the chairperson of the board of agriculture to grant an exception where such planting is done in a controlled environment.
Appropriates funds for one ambulance unit each for the county of Kauai, the county of Hawaii, and the city and county of Honolulu, including equipment, supplies, and personnel costs.
In a summary possession proceeding brought by a landlord against a holdover tenant: requires the court to address the complaint for summary possession during the first court appearance of the parties; prohibits a writ of possession from allowing the tenant more than fifteen days to vacate the premises; and specifies that the court shall expedite the proceeding so that the landlord is not unduly prejudiced by the delay.
Requires and appropriates funds for the department of business, economic development, and tourism, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii West Oahu, to develop a master plan to build a studio complex on the campus of the University of Hawaii West Oahu to be used for film production and classes for the academy of creative media.
Establishes the Hawaii tax credit scholarship program to benefit students with disabilities by providing scholarships to cover transportation costs and any other educational fees associated with a student attending a public school that is not in the service area where the student resides or a nonpublic special education school or program. Establishes eligibility criteria for students to apply for the scholarship program, responsibilities of the department of taxation and department of education, and eligibility criteria for nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations. Applies to tax years beginning after 12/31/17.
Establishes, beginning January 1, 2019, labeling requirements for any food or raw agricultural commodity sold in the State that contains a genetically engineered material, or was produced with a genetically engineered material; establishes exceptions; establishes violations; and requires director of health to adopt rules.
Requires persons who manufacture, sell, offer for sale, lease, or distribute a product that makes content accessible on the internet to include digital blocking capability that renders pornographic material inaccessible. Allows consumers to disable the blocking capability if the consumer fulfils certain requirements, including payment of a digital access fee that is deposited into the human trafficking victim services fund. Requires persons who manufacture, sell, offer for sale, lease, or distribute a product that makes content accessible on the internet to establish and maintain a reporting system for content that is improperly blocked and pornographic content that the blocking capability fails to block. Establishes the offense of failure to include digital pornography blocking capability.
Appropriates funds to the department of land and natural resources' division of forestry and wildlife, Maui branch, for invasive species technician positions in east Maui to address invasive plants and animals.
Establishes the high-growth grant program and special fund to provide grants to qualified businesses for certain business development activities. Makes an appropriation.