Sen. Lynn DeCoite

Proposes amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution to advance the State's goal of providing a quality public education system for the children of Hawaii by authorizing the Legislature to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on residential investment property valued at $1,000,000 or greater and visitor accommodations.

Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for a comprehensive category of reproductive health services, drugs, devices, products, and procedures. Requires the department of human services to establish and administer a program to reimburse the cost of medically appropriate services, drugs, devices, products, and procedures for individuals who can become pregnant and who would be eligible for medical assistance but for their citizenship status. Prohibits discrimination in the provision of reproductive health care services. Appropriates funds to the department of human services.

Amends Act 143, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, by providing an additional Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Tax Credit amount for qualified production costs in a county with a population of 700,000 or less, provided certain hiring criteria are met.

Establishes the address confidentiality program to help survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking to relocate and keep their addresses confidential. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii to conduct ongoing studies of the impacts of sewage spills on human health and affected coral reefs. Requires the Institute of Marine Biology to submit an annual report to the Legislature prior to the convening of each regular session. Appropriates funds.

Prohibits property insurers from refusing to issue, refusing to renew, or canceling a homeowners insurance policy based in whole upon an insured's or prospective insured's obtaining or maintaining liability insurance coverage as a condition of licensure, temporary permission, or registration with DHS to operate a child care facility.

Enacts voting by mail uniformly across all counties for all elections commencing in 2020, and allows any election to be conducted by mail prior to the 2020 primary election, in whole or in part, as determined by the chief election officer or county clerk, as appropriate. Establishes a limited number of voter service centers, with a minimum of two on each island with a population over 75,000, that would remain open from the tenth business day preceding an election through the day of the election to receive personal delivery of mail-in ballots, accommodate voters with special needs, offer same day registration and voting, and provide other election services. Allows for additional places of deposit for personal delivery of mail-in ballots. Appropriates funds for the implementation and administration of the election by mail program. Requires the office of elections to submit a report to the legislature prior to the convening of each regular session from 2019 through 2024, regarding the implementation of a vote by mail system. Takes effect on 1/1/2020.

Provides limited liability protection for county lifeguards and counties providing lifeguard services on beaches or in the ocean.

Automatically imposes a restraining order upon parties filing for annulment, divorce, or separation to preserve the financial assets of the parties and their dependents.

Establishes the right of certain terminally ill adults to request and access the process of voluntary assisted dying through self-administration or physician administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance. Effective 7/1/2019.