Sen. Troy Hashimoto

Expands the State's temporary disability insurance coverage to, and exempts from TDI benefit eligibility requirements that are employment-related, employees who are unable to perform their employment duties due to the employee's childbirth or provision of kangaroo care to, or expression of breast milk for, the employee's child who is required to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit. Extends under certain conditions the temporary disability benefit payment period and family leave period for employees who are unable to perform their employment duties due to a preterm birth of a child who is required to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or birth of a child who is required to stay in a NICU for more than eight weeks. Defines "kangaroo care" and "preterm birth". Requires the Department of Health to amend its rules to include neonatal care as related condition where the phrase "pregnancy, childbirth, or other related condition" is used.

Appropriates funds to support educational training programs to expand the State's health care workforce. Allocates funds to the Department of Education for health care certificate programs and classroom renovations for health care training in public high schools. Allocates funds to the University of Hawaii for education programs that support certified nurse assistants in becoming licensed practical nurses.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states. Requires the Office to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Creates a presumption for workers' compensation purposes that diseases of the heart in firefighters and law enforcement officers were proximately caused by and resulted from the nature of the person's employment if certain conditions are met. Exempts injuries caused by disease of the heart from certain time limitations applicable to workers' compensation claims. Establishes a process for regular physical examinations of firefighters and law enforcement officers to reduce heart disease risks.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to incorporate into their assessment process the possession of dam insurance or the active seeking of dam insurance by private dam owners, as part of their valid mitigation strategies, in conjunction with approved modifications or repairs. Authorizes the DLNR to relax any restrictions and stringent standards on a dam or appurtenance upon verification of certain insurance coverage. Authorizes the DLNR to consider a dam, reservoir, or appurtenance is safe absent certain documents. Shifts the burden of proof to the DLNR to find that a dam is categorized as high-risk. Establishes additional requirements for the DLNR and Board of Land and Natural Resources regarding the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program.

Maddy summarySB 377 would exempt medical services - including doctor visits, hospital care, and related health treatments - from the general excise tax, a tax currently applied to many services in the state. This change would directly affect patients receiving medical care (reducing their out-of-pocket costs) and healthcare providers (who would no longer collect or remit this tax on medical services). The key provision removes the tax requirement specifically for medical services, making them tax-free while leaving other services subject to the tax. The bill is currently pending committee review after introduction in January 2025.

Designates the Department of Land and Natural Resources as the primary agency for the trapping of feral goats, sheep, and pigs. Requires the Department to establish a program to humanely manage populations of feral goats, sheep, and pigs in the State by trapping.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop, construct, and support facilities that can accommodate shock aging processes for meat products. Appropriates funds into and out of the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund for programmatic funding relating to facilities using shock aging processes for meat products. Authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation to contract with existing and future slaughterhouses in the State.

Maddy summarySB 357 establishes clear criteria for unpaid student internships under the state's wage laws. It directly affects student interns and employers offering unpaid positions by requiring these programs to meet specific standards to avoid violating minimum wage protections. The key provision defines what constitutes a legitimate unpaid internship - ensuring it provides educational value and doesn't replace paid workers - thereby preventing exploitation under current wage law interpretations. This creates a concrete, enforceable framework for employers and interns without altering existing wage rates or eligibility.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Research and Economic Analysis Division to conduct a comprehensive study to assess the impacts of minimum wage increases on small businesses and the overall economic health of the State. Requires a report to the Legislature. Makes an appropriation.