Sen. Kurt Fevella

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board to accept and consider hearsay evidence during its proceedings. Hearsay refers to statements made by people who are not present in court, which are currently often excluded in legal settings. The change would directly affect labor disputes by giving the Board more flexibility in reviewing testimony and documents. This procedural update aims to streamline the evidence-gathering process for cases involving workers and employers.

Establishes a Business Revitalization Task Force within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to identify methods to improve Hawaiʻi's general economic competitiveness and business climate, including the mitigation of regulatory and tax burdens. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Adds a definition for "exigent circumstances" and amends the definitions of "harm" and "imminent harm" under the Child Protective Act. Clarifies when the police may take protective custody of a child and when the Department of Human Services may assume temporary foster custody of a child when exigent circumstances are present. Creates a judicial process for filing a petition for an order for protective custody, including the circumstances where such an order may be issued without notice and without a hearing. Effective July 1, 2025. (HD2)

Establishes a Silver Alert Program within the Department of Law Enforcement to help locate and safeguard missing persons who are sixty-five years of age or older, cognitively impaired, or developmentally disabled. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Repeals the sunset date for the exemption of laboratory school programs of the Hawaiian language college at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo from state English-medium standards, assessments, performance ratings, staff qualifications, and staff training requirements. (CD1)

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacies outside the state to send prescription details to local pharmacies when a patient first fills a prescription written in another state. The main change is to authorize the transfer of information for the initial fill of out-of-state prescriptions, which currently may be restricted. This update directly affects patients who have prescriptions from other states and the pharmacies that dispense them. The legislation aims to streamline the process for handling these cross-state prescriptions by permitting the necessary data exchange.

Authorizes licensed dental hygienists to perform preventive dental sealant screenings and apply dental sealants on individuals, under certain conditions, in a school-based oral health program. (CD1)

Adopts, establishes, and designates the shaka as the official gesture of the State. Authorizes the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to develop a public work of art related to the shaka and its history to be displayed in a prominent location in the State. (CD1)

For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2023, adds a definition for "qualified member" and repeals the definitions for "direct member" and "indirect member" as used in the State's passthrough entity taxation election law. Amends the passthrough entity level tax rate to be the sum of all qualified member's distributive shares and guaranteed payments of Hawaiʻi taxable income, as calculated under chapter 235, HRS, multiplied by 9%. For pass-through entities electing to pay Hawaiʻi income taxes at the entity level, allows certain qualified members entitled to a tax credit to use the credit against the member's net income tax liability in subsequent years until exhausted. (CD1)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the creation of a Telehealth Working Group to study how the widespread use of remote healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected safety, costs, and patient care in Hawaii. The group will consist of representatives from state agencies, insurance companies, medical associations, and healthcare providers to examine whether telehealth can be effectively integrated into standard medical practice. Members will analyze data on video and audio-only visits to identify policy changes needed at both state and federal levels to optimize future use. The working group is tasked with submitting a final report with findings and potential legislation recommendations to the Legislature by early 2025.