Sen. Mike Gabbard

Beginning on January 1, 2018, requires that any person who is eligible to vote and applies for a new or renewed motor vehicle driver's license, provisional license, instruction permit, limited purpose driver's license, limited purpose provisional driver's license, limited purpose instruction permit, or identification card shall be automatically registered to vote if that person is not already registered to vote; provided that upon receipt of notification from the respective county clerk the applicant shall have twenty-one calendar days to opt-out of automatic voter registration. Makes an appropriation.

Prohibits electric utilities from installing power connections or transferring accounts or services without owner or occupant consent.

Proposes amendments to the state constitution to provide for direct initiative.

Establishes the exclusive jurisdiction of the small claims division of the district court over cases in which the amount claimed is $1,000 or less exclusive of interest and costs. Expands the small claims division's jurisdiction over personal property cases to include any personal property worth $5,000 or less.

Creates a temporary law enforcement working group to make recommendations to the legislature on establishing professional recruitment, hiring, and training standards for all state law enforcement officers who carry firearms and badges and who have the arrest authority. Prohibits a law enforcement officer who has been terminated for misconduct by a state or county department, agency, or office in the capacity of law enforcement from being hired by another state or county law enforcement department, agency, or office.

Requires a finding of substantial evidence that a vulnerable adult has incurred abuse or is in danger of abuse prior to the issuance of an order for immediate protection when the vulnerable adult is living at home with a prognosis of six months or less to live.

Clarifies Hawaii's employment security law for independent contractors. Includes twenty factors to be used as guidelines when determining whether an individual could be an independent contractor. Retains the ability of the department of labor and industrial relations to determine if an individual is an independent contractor. Requires the director of labor and industrial relations to report to the legislature prior to the regular session of 2018 regarding guidelines developed by the unemployment insurance coverage committee. Requires an annual report to the legislature regarding covered employment determinations.

Requires judges, instead of the Hawaii paroling authority, to determine the minimum term of imprisonment a convicted offender must serve before becoming eligible for parole.

Requires board members of condominium associations to disclose significant financial interests prior to taking action that affects both the association and a third-party provider. Prohibits board members from receiving gifts from those types of third party providers. Expands the powers of the real estate commission to enforce violations by board members of disclosure requirements and gift prohibitions.

Requires the Department of Human Services to post its inspection records of child care facilities that involve substantiated complaints on a public website and submit an annual report to the legislature of certain information from inspection records related to child care facilities. (SB748 HD1)