Sen. Karl Rhoads

Requires the department of health to maintain and make available upon request certain information to a health care provider who provides prenatal or postnatal care pertaining to spina bifida, any person who provides genetic counseling to parents whose fetus or child receives a prenatal or postnatal spina bifida diagnois, any parent whose fetus or child receives a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of spina bifida, and any person who receives a positive spina bifida test result. Requires health care providers and genetic counselors to provide the information to every parent whose fetus or child receives a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of spina bifida.

Appropriates funds for the implementation and administration of the Hawaii health corps program that provides loan repayment for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and social workers who agree to work in a federally designated health professional shortage area or an area of Hawaii found to be underserved.

Appropriates funds for two full-time equivalent (2.00 FTE) enforcement specialist IV positions to be primarily responsible for the enforcement of Hawaii’s workers' compensation, temporary disability insurance, and prepaid health care laws.

Establishes a water security fund for the purpose of providing matching grants for projects related to water security; establishes eligible grantees and designates what moneys shall be deposited into the fund; imposes new water security fee. Creates a water security advisory group to advise the commission on which water security projects to select for grants. Requires annual report to legislature. Effective on 1/1/18.

Provides that the ballot of an absentee or military-overseas voter is valid even if the voter becomes ineligible to vote after casting the ballot. Repeals the requirement that an absentee voter's ballot be deemed invalid if the voter returns the return envelope but dies prior to the opening of polls. Takes effect on 1/7/2059. (SD1)

Requires the Department of Public Safety in collaboration with county and state agencies and, upon request of the inmate, to issue civil identification cards to the inmate and to assist the inmate in obtaining the inmate's birth certificate, social security card, and other relevant identification necessary for successful reentry into society. (SB1039 HD2)

Increases the fines for violations of use of mobile electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

Establishes a temporary food security task force at the national disaster preparedness training center at the University of Hawaii to develop an emergency food plan that addresses certain food security issues resulting from an emergency, catastrophic event, or quarantine. Makes an appropriation.

Prohibits the launching, landing, or recovering of an unmanned aerial system at a public park or beach without the prior consent of DOT. Prohibits the operation of an unmanned aerial system over any public park or beach at an altitude that interferes with the use of the land or water, or the space above the land or water, or is dangerous to others. Defines "unmanned "aerial system".

Establishes an emergency response vehicle noise task force to determine the impact of emergency response vehicle sirens in terms of excessive noise, the effect on public safety, and the relative effectiveness of the use of emergency lights instead of the use of sirens at night.