Sen. Chris Lee

Requires the Hawaii department of agriculture and agribusiness development corporation to annually lease at least 50% of land leased or up for lease renewal to operations whose primary business is, or supports, local food production beginning 1/1/2022. Requires the Hawaii department of agriculture and agribusiness development corporation to submit reports to the legislature on leasing activities. Requires the agribusiness development corporation and its board of directors to implement by 1/1/2023 the recommendations in the State Auditor's Report No. 21-01 and requires a progress report to the 2022 legislature and a final report by 12/31/2023. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Increases the cigarette excise tax imposed on each cigarette sold in the State and allocates the increase in tax revenues to a cigarette litter abatement special fund. Provides that the cigarette litter abatement special fund shall be used to cover the costs of collecting and removing cigarette litter and providing outreach and education to curb improper cigarette litter disposal. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to study and recommend how to implement a smart imports program in Hawaii. Requires electric utilities to offer excess electricity to consumers during daylight hours at cost for any legal purpose beginning 1/1/2023.

Requires the department of education to establish and implement a sexual abuse prevention education program to educate public and charter school students on sexual abuse prevention, provide relevant training to teachers and staff, and inform parents and guardians about important child sexual abuse topics. Requires the board of education to adopt policies to effectuate the program. Requires reports to the legislature. Appropriates funds. (SD2)

Requires the office of enterprise technology services to establish a working group to conduct a study to identify state office buildings that can provide equitable telecommunication access to allow residents of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, and rural areas of the city and county of Honolulu, including residents with disabilities, to participate remotely in legislative hearings. Requires a report to the legislature. Dissolves the working group on 6/30/2022. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to conduct a study on the state of broadband access in all public housing projects in the State. Requires the Public Housing Authority to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022. Authorizes the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to request assistance from the Legislative Reference Bureau as may be necessary.

Prohibits use, sale, alteration, or installation of motor vehicle mufflers that emit more than 95 decibels of sound.

Increases the maximum civil penalty for littering from $500 to $1,000. Increases the maximum fine for the offense of criminal littering from $1,000 to $5,000.

Allows public employers to establish and implement a telework program. Requires public employers with a telework program to establish a telework policy and post it on the employer's internet website; provide the teleworking employees with equipment that is reasonably necessary to perform their job functions at the teleworking site; and reimburse teleworking employees with communication costs incurred by teleworking.

Requires electric utilities to compensate electricity producers for excess electricity credits.