Appropriates moneys for the Department of Agriculture to establish an aquaculture incubator at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and to support the planning and participation of the Hawaii aquaculture industry in the Aquaculture America 2020 conference. Effective 7/1/2112. (SD2)
Establishes a Cesspool Conversion Working Group within the Department of Health to develop a comprehensive plan for the conversion of all statewide cesspools by 2050. Requires the University of Hawaii to conduct a comprehensive statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas. Appropriates funding to the Department of Health for the Cesspool Conversion Working Group and to the University of Hawaii for the study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine areas. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)
Changes the annual contribution and deduction amounts, aggregate contribution amount, and deadline for distributing the entire interest for individual housing accounts established after 12/31/2018; allows community development financial institutions to serve as trustees of individual housing accounts established after 12/31/2018; and requires homebuyer education as a condition of distribution of funds in individual housing accounts by trustees. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD2)
Provides that where a quiet title action involves kuleana land, at the request of any defendant at the time the action was brought, the court shall order: mandatory mediation with a goal of resolving the dispute, including any issues that might need to be preliminarily established through an action commenced under chapter 668A; and consolidation of separate actions commenced by the same plaintiff or multiple plaintiffs for the same real property in interest. Requires the plaintiff in a quiet title action involving kuleana land to bear the costs of required mediation and only recover costs, expenses, or attorney's fees from the defendant as the court may deem equitable under the circumstances. Takes effect 7/1/2035. (SD1)
Allocates a portion of the conveyance tax revenues to the rental assistance revolving fund to be used to subsidize rents for persons who meet certain income requirements. Increases the income tax credit for low-income household renters to an unspecified amount. Makes the state earned income tax credit refundable and changes the amount of the credit to an unspecified percentage of the federal earned income tax credit. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD2)
Expands the rental assistance program by increasing the minimum percentage of affordable units a rental housing project is required to maintain for eligible tenants from 20 percent to 30 percent. Decreases the qualifying maximum ceiling from 80 percent to 30 percent of the area median income for a family or individual to be an eligible tenant under the rental assistance program. Appropriates moneys to support new rental assistance program contracts. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD2)
Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to update its 1985 study on environmental reorganization for Hawaii and assess the feasibility of implementing the findings and recommendations of the 1991 Department of Environmental Protection Task Force. Makes an appropriation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
Amends Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, to clarify the duties of the Special Action Team on Affordable Rental Housing and add additional members to the Special Action Team for the purpose of addressing issues related to extremely low-income household needs. Makes an appropriation. Takes effect on 1/1/2050. (SD2)
