Sen. Donna Kim

Makes an appropriation to fund pay raises for certain teachers.

Requires counties to establish expedited procedures to approve demolition permits for vacant and abandoned residential homes. Allows the Department of Taxation to seek sale of the property through nonjudicial foreclosure of vacant and abandoned residential properties with outstanding recorded state tax liens at any time after establishing vacancy and abandonment.

Prohibits discrimination, including in advertisements for rental property, in rental transactions based on participation in a section 8 housing choice program or any permanent supportive housing program or requirements related to participation in these housing assistance programs.

Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to implement and administer tourism related initiatives that are designed to educate visitors on the State's protected areas and wildlife, including public service announcement videos to be shown by transportation companies. Requires aircraft and vessel passengers to complete "Promise to Preserve and Protect Hawaii's Environment" declaration forms. Requires transportation companies to distribute and collect declaration forms for delivery to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Requires licensed used motor vehicle part dealers to keep records of purchases and sales of catalytic converters and requires the sellers to file a written statement that the seller has the lawful right to sell and dispose of the catalytic converter. Establishes the offense of theft of catalytic converter as a class C felony. Increases the penalty for engaging in the business of purchasing or selling used motor vehicle parts and accessories without a license. Requires scrap dealers to keep records of purchases and sales of palladium, platinum, and rhodium. Requires all scrap dealers to pay for palladium, platinum, and rhodium, and used motor vehicle part dealers to pay for catalytic converters, by check.

Appropriates funds to restore diagnostic, preventive, and restorative dental benefits to adult medicaid enrollees; provided that the department of human services obtains maximum federal matching funds available and pursues all funding sources, including private grants, prior to expending any general fund appropriations.

Prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco products. Establishes fines and penalties for violations. Effective 01/01/2023.

Specifies that ten per cent of the moneys in the Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund shall be allocated to and expended by the Department of Health for purposes of the Kupuna Care Program and the Kupuna Caregivers Program. Specifies that the allotment of tobacco settlement moneys shall not supplant the base budget of the Executive Office on Aging.

Allows individual taxpayers sixty-five years of age or older with lower incomes to claim an additional exemption for purposes of the food/excise tax credit thereby providing relief from the general excise tax on food purchases.

Extends the renewal period for driver's licenses from every two years to every four years for persons 72 years of age or older.