Establishes within the Department of Transportation the container licensing program to mitigate the influx of illegal contraband into the State. Imposes a nominal licensing fee of $1 per container. Subjects all containers entering the State to inspections and authorizes the seizure of contraband.
Establishes the Landfill Advisory Committee within the Department of Health. Requires the DOH, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and each county's department of board or water supply to create maps of the State's drinking water aquifers. Prohibits the siting, construction, modification, or expansion of any waste or disposal facility for hazardous or solid waste on land that is near or above an aquifer as determined by the DOH in consultation with the affected county's department or board of water supply. Expands buffer zones from one-half mile to one mile around a waste or disposal facility. Establishes penalties. Expands the definition of buffer zone to include aquifers, hotel or tourist accommodations, and businesses.
Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties located in historically vulnerable areas to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program special fund. Appropriates moneys from the special fund.
Requires the State Building Code Council to assess the financial impact of the adoption of a code or standard on single-family and multi-family homes. Requires the State Building Code Council to also include amortized utility costs when adopting codes or standards. Amends annual reporting requirements for the State Building Code Council to include assessment of costs and determinations of benefits for residents.
Maddy summarySB 120 would update the responsibilities of the State Building Code Council, the body that oversees building safety standards. If passed, it would change how the council operates but does not directly affect homeowners, builders, or new construction requirements. The bill focuses solely on procedural changes to the council's duties, with no new public regulations or funding specified. The measure is currently pending in committee after a public hearing was scheduled for January 24, 2025.
Requires the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the counties of the State, to establish a 1-year unregistered motor vehicle amnesty pilot program to encourage motor vehicle registration and mandate the surrender or impoundment of unregistered motor vehicles after the expiration of the program. Appropriates moneys.
Requires specialized training for all employees of the Office of the Ombudsman to develop relevant expertise to handle complaints about the child welfare system. Requires the Office of the Ombudsman to publish a quarterly report on its website that identifies the number and nature of complaints that it receives regarding the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services. Requires the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services to provide notification that complaints can also be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. Appropriates funds.
Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Department of Health for construction defect remediation at the Hawaii State Hospital. Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) building manager position at the Hawaii State Hospital. Appropriates funds.
Establishes a paid family leave program for state and county employees. Authorizes a qualifying employee to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. Requires the employee to agree to subsequently work for the employer for at least 12 weeks upon return to service except under certain conditions.
Allows the counties to amend district boundaries involving land areas greater than fifteen acres without appearing before the Land Use Commission if the affected lands are included in the County General Plan or County Development Plan. Requests the LUC to update the digital state land use district maps and to encourage transit-oriented development that preserves the character of the State's rural areas.
