Sen. Dru Kanuha

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as a school resource officer or investigator in positions identified by the Department of Education or the Department of the Attorney General, respectively, as a labor shortage or difficult-to-fill positions, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Director of Human Resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction or the human resources management chief executive of each county to include in their annual reports to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as school resource officers or investigators.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution adopts the official rules for the Hawaii Senate's 2025 legislative session, effective January 16, 2025. It establishes the procedural framework for Senate operations, including debate rules and voting procedures, which directly govern how senators conduct legislative business during the session.

Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in the personal transition plan requirement for each student.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions within the Division of Student Success' Counseling and Student Development Center.

Authorizes the Department of Law Enforcement to establish traffic cameras and issue a citation by mail for certain violations of traffic-related laws. Establishes that intentional destruction or damage to a traffic camera is a class C felony.

Establishes a two-year pilot program that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free school lunch to all students enrolled at a department school. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals on 6/30/2027.

Establishes an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, or School Facilities Authority. Repeals 1/1/2030.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural Senate resolution (not a policy bill) formally appointing officers for the Hawaii State Senate's 33rd Legislature. It names Carol T. Taniguchi as Clerk, Ainoa A. Naniolé as Assistant Clerk, Benigno C. Villaflor as Sergeant-At-Arms, and C.M. Park Kaleiwahéa as Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms. The resolution has no policy provisions or impact on legislation; it simply establishes the Senate's leadership roles for the 2025 session.

Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the Department of Agriculture may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program. (CD1)

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to convene a working group to study the state of American Sign Language interpretation services in Hawaiʻi. Requires a report to the Legislature, with the assistance of the Department of Health. (CD1)