Sen. Henry Aquino

Appropriates funds for the construction and operation of non-chemical sunscreen dispensers on all state beaches to alleviate the damaging effects of chemical-based sunscreen on reef ecosystems. Allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract with private parties to assist with the maintenance and management of sunscreen dispensers at all state beaches.

Restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a felony offense where the property owner has been convicted of an underlying felony offense. Directs forfeiture proceeds to the general fund. Amends the allowable expenses for moneys in the Criminal Forfeiture Fund. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Amends the deadline for the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the use of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Limits the transfer of certain forfeiture property to federal agencies. Establishes records requirements. (SD1)

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a grant program to assist persons who use albizia trees to create usable commercial products or are developing ways to use albizia trees to create usable products. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in consultation with certain academic units of the University of Hawaii, to study economically feasible ways in which businesses may use albizia trees to produce usable commercial products, including housing, throughout the State. Appropriates moneys.

Requires that each county agency responsible for enforcing its respective building code be accredited by the International Accreditation Service.

Requires that in evaluating and determining the award for redevelopment of state or county lands through competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals, the number of housing units proposed shall constitute forty per cent of the evaluation score regardless of whether the development of housing is proposed. Applies to the urban areas of state or county land located within a one-half mile radius of mass transit stops or stations.

Requires the independent medical examination and permanent impairment rating examination of an injured employee under the Workers' Compensation Law to be conducted by a qualified chiropractor or physician selected by the mutual agreement of the parties and paid for by the employer. In absence of a mutual agreement, requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to appoint a duly qualified impartial chiropractor or physician to be paid by the employer.

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture, an Aquacultural Area Lease Program for the purpose of identifying state facilities, state lands, and state marine waters that are suitable for use and lease as commercial aquacultural areas. Allows agencies having control and management of identified aquacultural areas to lease the facilities, lands, and waters to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of the Act. Allows the program to use the moneys in the Aquaculture Development Special Fund to carry out the purposes of the Act and requires the revenues obtained from aquacultural area leases to be deposited into the Aquaculture Development Special Fund. Imposes penalties and civil and criminal liabilities. Exempts the program from being subject to the Hawaii Ocean and Submerged Lands Leasing Act.

Clarifies requirements for film productions with production expenditures of $1,000,000 or more claiming the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit. Increases the annual cap from $50,000,000 to $75,000,000 for the total amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production tax credit. Requires productions to meet certain local hire and local vendor quotas. Expands the definition of qualified production for the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit to include streaming platforms. Takes effect 1/6/2050. (SD1)

Establishes a career and technical education working group to strengthen career and technical education in the State's public schools. Makes an appropriation.

Clarifies that the conviction of a crime by a person holding a license to practice professional engineering, architecture, land surveying, or landscape architecture in the State, that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of the licensee constitutes a ground for disciplinary action by the State Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects. Allows the Board to suspend or revoke a convicted licensee's license or decline to reissue a license to a convicted licensee subject to certain conditions.