Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

Establishes and funds a State Public-Private Partnership Coordinator position within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to manage public-private partnerships entered into by the State and associated contracts, proposals, and negotiations, except public-private partnerships entered into by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. (SB1306 HD1)

Appropriates moneys from the general fund for two specialist II positions within the Hawaii teacher standards board. (SB195 HD1)

Requires the DOE, in collaboration and consultation with DBEDT, DLIR, and UH, to develop and implement a K-12 curriculum to career pipeline initiative to ensure that the State's public school students are adequately trained and prepared to enter the State's workforce upon graduation from high school. Appropriates funds. (SB619 HD1)

Directs the mayor of each county to designate an officer to oversee any public-private partnerships entered into by the county. Authorizes counties to develop public-private partnerships to construct relief sewers for affordable housing development projects. (SB1210 HD1)

Requires a finding that denial of reasonable grandparent visitation rights would cause significant harm to the child as a condition of awarding grandparent visitation rights. Clarifies procedures for an order awarding reasonable grandparent visitation rights. Specifies that a violation of the terms and conditions of such an order is punishable as contempt of court. (SB422 HD1)

Requires the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor, to develop a strategic plan to double local food production and increase food exports by 2020. Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit the strategic plan to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2018 to codify the strategic plan and benchmarks. Makes an appropriation. (SB624 HD1)

Specifies a customer has the right to rescind a deferred deposit by returning the principal amount used to fund the deferred deposit within a specified time frame. Permits customers to convert a deferred deposit into an installment loan plan in certain circumstances and specifies requirements for the installment loan plan. Protects against harmful collection practices. Defines annual percentage rate. Requires a check casher to post a notice informing customers that additional options may be available for safe, regulated, lower-cost, small dollar loans. Requires a check casher to provide a written agreement to a customer that clearly discloses specific information relating to the cost and fees associated with the deferred deposit, among other things. Caps the annual percentage rate at thirty-six per cent for deferred deposit of a personal check. Permits prepayment of deferred deposit agreements with no additional fees. (SD1)

Requires employers to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave to employees to be used to care for themselves or a family member who is ill or needs medical care. (SB425 HD1)

Requires the strategic plan developed by the Hawaii Interagency Council for Transit-oriented Development to require that every development or redevelopment plan for any state property within one-half mile of the Honolulu rail transit system evaluate the suitability for affordable housing based on certain specifications, unless the council determines that housing is not feasible or desirable on a particular property. Allows a developer to build fewer housing units than required at one state parcel if the developer builds additional housing at another state parcel within one-half mile of a rail station to offset the reduction. (SB1147 HD1)

Establishes a model project at a location selected by DLNR to designate areas for planting and growing coconut trees for Hawaiian traditional and customary gathering practices. Appropriates funds for the model project. (SB640 HD1)