Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Amends various provisions of the HRS to increase protections for child victims of sex trafficking, prostitution, and commercial exploitation by increasing penalties for offenders and habitual offenders. Among other things, amends the offense of sex trafficking to impose criminal liability on a person who solicits a minor for prostitution and by imposing strict liability with respect to the age of the minor.

Amends the offense of abuse of family or household members to provide for felony, misdemeanor, and petty misdemeanor penalties. Expands the family court's jurisdiction over certain enumerated offenses committed against family or household members. Repeals the prohibition on deferred acceptance of guilty or no contest pleas in cases involving abuse of family or household members. Requires that no-contact and stay-away orders issued during the pendency of a criminal case or as a condition of probation be enforced regardless of whether the defendant signed a written acknowledgment of the order, provided that the defendant was informed on the record of the terms and conditions of the order in open court. Requires that no-contact and stay-away orders issued during the pendency of trial cases involving abuse of family or household members or certain enumerated offenses be automatically converted after the defendant's conviction to a new protective order that shall remain in effect for a fixed reasonable period as the court deems appropriate, unless the victim or witness requests otherwise.

Upon approval by a county land use decision-making authority, and with concurrence from the Land Use Commission, requires boundary amendments reflected in county land use plans to be adopted in accordance with such approved plans. (HB1866 HD1)

Amends the amount of transient accommodations tax revenues to be remitted to the counties. Requires the counties to use transient accommodations tax revenues to enforce ordinances regulating transient accommodations and other short term rentals and for other specific programs.

Prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of non-prescription SPF sunscreen products containing octinoxate or oxybenzone.

Authorizes and regulates short-term lending in the State such that short-term loans shall not exceed a term of thirty months, require payments not to exceed eight per cent of the borrower's gross monthly income, and other conditions.

Establishes a family leave insurance program, which requires employees and employers to make contributions into an insurance fund to be used to provide employees with family leave insurance benefits in order to care for a designated person. Appropriates funds to implement the program.

Appropriates funds for infrastructure costs, the rental or lease of charter school facilities, and the repair and maintenance of network infrastructure of charter schools. Appropriates funds for meal services and student transportation at charter schools. (HB2509 HD1)

Designates September as "Hawaii Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Month" to promote public awareness of and recovery from substance abuse and addiction. (HB1903 HD1)

Requires certain persons to immediately report a potential tort claim to the family court when that person has reason to believe that a child in foster custody has suffered an injury that may arise to a tort claim. Establishes procedures for the family court to allow a child in foster custody who has suffered an injury to seek outside legal representation for a claim of damages as a result of a tort. (HB1885 HD1)