Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

Prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee based on the employee's status as a qualifying patient and from taking action against an employee based solely on the employee's status as a qualifying patient or if the results of the employee's drug test are positive for cannabis, subject to certain exceptions. Specifies permissible and impermissible actions by employers and employees. Takes effect 1/1/2051. (SD1)

Proposes an amendment to article IX, section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, to require the Legislature to consider the effect of its actions on the price of housing in the State. (SD1)

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to be appropriated into and out of the rental housing revolving fund, dwelling unit revolving fund, and, contingent upon the enactment of S.B. No. 878 in any form, the home ownership housing revolving fund. Requires an amount of the funds appropriated out of the rental housing revolving fund be used to create permanent supportive housing units for chronically homeless individuals. (SD1)

Allows the elections commission to refer a complaint to the attorney general or county prosecutor in addition to any administrative determination and without the requirement that the commission believes the respondent has recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally committed a violation. Disqualifies a person convicted of violating elections criminal prosecution laws from holding elective public office for ten years, rather than four. Repeals language stipulating that elections criminal prosecution law does not apply to any person who has paid or agreed to pay fines related to report filing violations and advertisement violations prior to the commencement of the proceedings.

Clarifies that the school-level minor repairs and maintenance special fund shall be used only to fund minor repairs and maintenance.

Bans the sale of beverage containers connected to each other with plastic connecting devices. Establishes fines. Establishes the plastic reduction special fund. Takes effect 1/1/2021. (SD1)

Requires each state government branch to establish a shared leave program for state employees. Allows the chief executive of a county to establish a shared leave program for county employees. Precludes a state government branch from prohibiting leave sharing between different departments or bargaining units because of administrative infeasibility. Allows an employee's designation of beneficiary form to be filed with the department where the employee is employed and permits the designation to be made through a statement that is not verified or written.

Beginning with the 2019-2021 fiscal year, reduces the percentage from 6.5 per cent to 5.0 per cent of the total department of education's operating budget that can be expended for the department's administrative expenditures. Increases the per cent of appropriations for the total budget of the department that principals can expend from seventy per cent to seventy-five per cent.

Requires the board of regents of the University of Hawaii to waive the nonresident tuition and fee differential for veterans of the United States Navy who served on an active ship or ship decommissioned after 2000 that is named after a person, place, or word associated with Hawaii.

Repeals provision that imposes petty misdemeanor penalty on the child, and father or mother, guardian, or other person having charge of the child, if the child persists in absenting oneself from school.