Sen. Chris Lee

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for outreach and education efforts in West Hawaii county regarding the detection and treatment of little fire ants. Restructures the Hawaii Invasive Species Council as the Hawaii Invasive Species Authority, to be administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture, to coordinate implementation of the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan and to improve coordination of the State's invasive species prevention, early detection, rapid response, control, enforcement, and outreach programs. Makes appropriations. Effective 7/1/2050; provided that sections 6, 7, and 8 are effective 7/1/2051. (SD2)

Requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Health, to establish a pilot project to procure services from a designated service provider to operate a facility to provide shelter and mental health treatment for homeless individuals with severe mental illness or severe co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders who are subject to court-ordered assisted community treatment or court-ordered guardianship. Requires the adult protective and community services branch of the Department of Human Services or a licensed physician employed by the designated service provider to request court-ordered assisted community treatment or court-ordered guardianship for homeless individuals with severe mental illness or severe co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders. Requests that homeless individuals with severe mental illness or severe co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders provide identification documentation prior to receiving shelter and mental health treatment. Requires the designated service provider to locate an unused, suitable facility to operate as a shelter. Makes an appropriation. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Transitions from lump sum deferred deposit transactions to installment-based small dollar loan transactions. Specifies various consumer protection requirements for small dollar loans. Beginning 1/1/2019, requires licensure for small dollar lenders that offer small dollar loans to consumers. Specifies licensing requirements for small dollar lenders. Authorizes the division of financial institutions to appoint 1.0 FTE examiner position, funded via the compliance resolution fund, to carry out the purposes of the small dollar installment loan program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Removes the cap on the number of epidemiologists that the Department of Health may employ. (HB2493 HD2)

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish paid family leave for all workers by January 1, 2021. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2030. (SD2)

Appropriates funds to the State Procurement Office for two full-time construction procurement specialists to support the State Procurement Office. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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)