Limits the autonomy of the board of regents of the University of Hawaii to that provided by law; effective upon ratification of an amendment to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution.
Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a farm to school program. Requires the farm to school coordinator in the department of agriculture to work in collaboration with the department of education on any farm to school program. Establishes two FTE farm to school staff positions within the department of education. Appropriates funds.
Appropriates funds for the hiring of a coordinator and for interisland travel and operating expenses of the P-20 Agriculture Education Working Group within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Outlines the duties of the working group and opens participation in the working group to additional persons and entities.
Proposes an amendment to Constitution of the State of Hawaii to repeal the exclusive jurisdiction in the internal structure, management, and operation that the University of Hawaii's board of regents holds over the university.
Requires DOH to study the protection of waters in the State. The study shall: (1) identify state statutes that rely on, or are applied in conjunction with, the federal Clean Water Act; (2) propose amendments to protect waters if the federal Clean Water Rule is amended; (3) identify waters that are at risk of pollution or contamination; and (4) recommend how the State can prepare for and address water pollution or contamination risks, including disasters. Appropriates moneys for the study.
Establishes a verdict of guilty of the offense charged but mentally ill in criminal trials. Changes the defense of not guilty by reason of insanity to require the court to find that at the time of the conduct, the person lacked a particular state of mind that is required to establish an element of the offense charged as a result of physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect. Requires persons who are incarcerated as a result of a verdict of guilty of the offense charged but mentally ill to receive health care or mental health care appropriate to the person's diagnosis during the person's term of imprisonment. Requires the Department of Public Safety to conduct a study on the costs of providing care to incarcerated persons who have been found guilty of the offense charged but mentally ill. Effective July 1, 2020.
Provides the State, counties, and county lifeguards immunity from liability against damages arising from the acts or omissions of lifeguards while performing emergency lifeguard services.
Increases the minimum wage rate to $12 per hour beginning 01/01/19, $13.50 per hour beginning 01/01/20, and $15 per hour beginning 01/01/21. Beginning 01/01/19, allows an employer to pay to an employee a wage that is at least ninety per cent of the applicable minimum wage rate if the employer employs less than fifty employees, the employee is under the age of sixteen, or during the employee's initial thirty days of employment with the employer.
Allows public school students in grades K through 12 to decline participation in dissection, vivisection, and other procedures harmful to animals. Requires schools to make alternative educational projects available, and the board of education to develop rules and give notice to all schools.
Requires merchants to refund shipping and handling charges paid by the consumer when the consumer returns a damaged or defective good and requests a refund.
