Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

Increases the fine for failure to use a seat belt.

Repeals the statute authorizing the assessment of a special fund for departmental administrative expenses.

Prohibits commingling of moneys distributed by the State or federal government for the purpose of operating a charter school with other moneys that do not have an educational purpose that benefits the charter school. Prohibits any action of a charter school or its governing board from giving rise to a private cause of action against the State. Requires any contract entered into by a charter school over a minimum amount to contain conditions and provisions provided by the department of the attorney general. (SD1)

Exempts vehicles transporting asphalt or other high temperature loads from the requirement that their loads be covered.

Specifies that ten per cent of general excise tax revenues collected from medical marijuana dispensaries and ten per cent of gross income generated by each entity that holds a medical marijuana dispensary license shall be allocated to the mental health and substance abuse special fund. Authorizes moneys in the mental health and substance abuse special fund to be used for the payment of the operating expenses of mental health and substance abuse programs operated by the State. (SD1)

Requires remote schools to be allocated funds using categorical allotments, rather than through the weighted student formula. Defines a remote school as any public school that is a high school located at least a one-hour drive away from the next nearest high school or a high school located on the island of Lanai, Molokai, or Niihau.

Allows for several factors to be weighted for the weighted student formula including but not limited to student characteristics, enrollment trends, and optimal student-teacher ratios. Requires the committee on weights to incorporate into the weighted student formula weights that account for special education teachers and support staff, enrollment increases, and the optimal student-teacher ratio at each grade level.

Allows the tax credit for cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection for taxpayers who upgrade a qualified cesspool to a wastewater system that includes a composting toilet.

Allows hosting platforms registered with the department of taxation to act as tax collectors on behalf of the short-term rental lodging operators and applies the general excise tax on short-term rental lodging. Requires hosting platforms to report detailed operator information, including addresses and number of booking transactions, with the filing of tax returns and requires short-term rental lodging operators to keep records of each booking transaction for a period of at least three years. Limits the number of short-term rental lodging units that can be registered by any one operator and sets a cap of the number of nights permitted. Creates a surcharge on short-term rental lodging in the State to fund supportive services for Hawaii's homeless.

Extends the lapse date for the mitigating of hazardous situations appropriation from June 30, 2017 to June 30, 2019.