Sen. Mike Gabbard

Codifies the Hawaii promise program into law to provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students. Expands the Hawaii promise program to qualified students enrolled at any University of Hawaii campus in addition to qualified students enrolled at any University of Hawaii community college campus. Establishes a special fund and appropriate funds to maintain the Hawaii promise program.

Increases the minimum wage rate to $12 per hour beginning 01/01/19, $13.50 per hour beginning 01/01/20, and $15 per hour beginning 01/01/21. Beginning 01/01/19, allows an employer to pay to an employee a wage that is at least ninety per cent of the applicable minimum wage rate if the employer employs less than fifty employees, the employee is under the age of sixteen, or during the employee's initial thirty days of employment with the employer.

Requires merchants to refund shipping and handling charges paid by the consumer when the consumer returns a damaged or defective good and requests a refund.

Requires schools to provide a lunchtime period of at least thirty minutes in length. Requires that the lunchtime period fall between 11:20 A.M. and 1:40 P.M. Effective 7/1/2019.

Codifies the option of the courts to sentence defendants to probation under the H.O.P.E. program. Authorizes current impaired offenders to convert the remainder of their terms to the H.O.P.E. program. Authorizes courts to seal the criminal records of impaired offenders who complete various alternative programs to sentencing. Authorizes impaired offenders who have completed their sentences to have their criminal records sealed in exchange for completing a course of treatment and rehabilitative endeavors. Requires that an impaired offender's sealed criminal record be unsealed upon conviction of a subsequent offense.

Creates a criminal offense of unlicensed sale of intoxicating liquor. Amends definitions of organized crime and racketeering to include unlicensed sale of intoxicating liquor. Defines intoxicating liquor.

Establishes a single-payer universal health care insurance system to provide the same high-quality level of medically necessary health care to all Hawaii residents. Prohibits private health care insurers from duplicating the coverages provided by the system. Establishes the state health care insurance planning and financing authority within the department of health to operate the system. Provides the structure and duties of the authority. Requires that the functions, rights, powers, duties, and appropriations of the Hawaii health authority, DLIR as they relate to the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, and Hawaii employer union health benefits trust fund be transferred to the state health care insurance planning and financing authority. Repeals the Hawaii health authority. Appropriates funds to the state health care insurance planning and financing authority to establish and operate the single-payer universal health care insurance system.

Allows employer and employee to mutually agree to an independent medical examiner or permanent impairment rating examiner. An out-of-state physician may conduct the examination upon approval by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (Director) or when an employee resides out-of-state. Without the parties' mutual agreement, the Director shall appoint the physician who shall be paid from funds appropriated by the Legislature. Defines "medical stability."

Requires persons convicted of animal cruelty to register with the attorney general. Requires animal shelters, animal breeders, and pet stores to check whether an individual has been convicted of animal abuse when the individual applies to work or volunteer, or purchases or adopts an animal. Establishes penalties. Prevents persons convicted of animal cruelty from possessing, owning, or working in close proximity to animals. Requires police officers to be trained in identifying and investigating animal abuse.

Requires at least one of the three PUC commissioners to be a resident of a county other than the city and county of Honolulu and to receive per diem compensation.