Sen. Angus McKelvey

Establishes the culturally competent palliative care pilot program to promote palliative care, gather health care utilization data, and conduct bidding for at least two pilot programs for home or community based palliative care, one of which must be located in a county with less than two hundred thousand residents. Establishes an advisory group to oversee implementation of the pilot program. (HB722 HD1)

Increases the minimum wage to fifteen dollars per hour by 2022 and indexes future annual increases to the median wage for all occupations in the State. Adjusts the tip credit.

Requires the department of transportation to establish a policy that prioritizes improvements to crosswalks located in areas with frequent pedestrian injuries and fatalities and considers installing additional safety features.

Requires courts to order any person charged with a criminal offense to be released on personal recognizance or on the execution of an unsecured bond, unless the person is unlikely to appear for trial. Requires the Judiciary to establish statewide court appearance reminder system. (HB1436 HD1)

Establishes an income tax credit for taxpayers who own and operate a business from their principal residence. (HB1216 HD1)

Defines the roles and responsibilities of the executive office on early learning and the department of education as they relate to the implementation of the public prekindergarten program. Establishes the executive office on early learning as the administrative authority for state funded prekindergarten programs and a support for and with the department of education special education, Title I, and private partnership funded prekindergarten programs to ensure high quality early education programs in department of education school classrooms. Ensures that agreements and services are clearly articulated in a memorandum of understanding between the executive office on early learning and the department of education, including a resolution protocol to settle disputes should either party not be able to come to an agreement. Establishes reporting requirements. Authorizes the state public charter school commission to establish and fund charter school prekindergarten classrooms. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Requires the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health to disperse grant-in-aid funds to recipient organizations within ninety days of the effective date of the legislation awarding the grant. Allows the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health to disperse the total amount awarded to recipient organizations before contract execution.

Requires the Department of Human Services to include the name of the beneficiary of supplemental nutrition and assistance program (SNAP) benefits on each electronic benefits transfer card. Requires a photo identification to be presented when an electronic benefits transfer card is used.

Amends the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit, to include, as qualified production costs, post-production activities and services performed in Hawaii-based film studios and post-production facilities. Authorizes DOTAX to adopt additional rules. (HB645 HD1)

Requires the State Auditor to study the feasibility of providing health benefits to state and county employees using a self-insured model. Appropriates funds. Establishes the Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund. Caps employer contributions to the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund. Provides for the use of a portion of TAT revenues to supplement deficient county public employer contribution amounts. (HB1462 HD1)