Sen. Maile Shimabukuro

Expands the Hawaiian Language College's functions. Authorizes a Hawaiian language medium general education coursework pilot project. Supports the development of an implementation plan for Hawaiian language instruction throughout the University of Hawaii System. Requires the University of Hawaii to report to the Legislature each year with information about efforts to implement education taught through the Hawaiian language. (SB848 HD2)

Mandates the department of agriculture to take precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent, or minimize the adverse effects of biotechnology and genetic engineering.

Requires the governor to establish puuhonua safe zones where homeless persons may reside. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Auditor to contract with a suitable entity to conduct a study of closed claims in the workers' compensation system, including the processing time for closed claims. Amends the deadline for completion of the study and the deadline for the legislative report. Appropriates funds for the study. (SB1236 HD1)

Establishes requirements for operating an autocycle. Defines autocycle. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Establishes an annual electric vehicle registration surcharge to be deposited into the state highway fund.

Requires an owner or occupier of agricultural land to notify the Land Use Commission of the agricultural uses for which land was subdivided. Grants the Commission enforcement authority over conditions, restrictions, uses, and subdivision of agricultural lands, including the right to enter and inspect lands, issue orders, and impose fines or liens for violations. (SB698 HD1)

Defines emergency shelter to mean a homeless facility designed to provide temporary shelter and services to homeless families or individuals. Allows homeless shelter stipends to be adjusted at the end of each year based upon achievement of performance measures. Requires homeless shelters to have no fewer than one shower, one sink, and one toilet per twenty-five residents and the minimum area of each partitioned space to be determined by the number of residents and capacity of the shelter. Authorizes, rather than mandates, that emergency shelters have partitioned space for each homeless family or individual that provides separation from other homeless families or individuals in the shelter. Establishes that the storage space at a homeless shelter shall be determined by each shelter's space availability. Removes DHS's authority to require shelters to comply with additional requirements. (SD1)

Amends the date of filing of monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual general excise tax returns from the 20th day of the respective applicable month to the last day of the month. Applies to tax periods beginning after 12/31/17. (SD1)

Authorizes the public benefits fee to be used to install and upgrade electric power infrastructure to facilitate the use of electric vehicles. Authorizes the public benefits fee administrator to establish procedures for the administration of public benefits fee programs that install or upgrade electric power infrastructure to facilitate the use of electric vehicles. Sunsets on 6/30/2021.