Sen. Ron Kouchi

Increases the cap for awards to assist businesses applying for the Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Program. Adds purchasing of renewable energy systems as an eligible expense and clarifies that training on both new and existing manufacturing equipment is an eligible expense for the Manufacturing Development Grant Program.

Encourages boards to maintain any electronic audio or visual recording of a board meeting as a public record on the board's website regardless of whether the written minutes of the meeting have been posted. Amends the information that must be included as part of the written minutes of board meetings. Requires boards to provide the state archives with a copy of any electronic audio or visual recording of a board meeting before removing the recording from the board's website. Effective 10/1/2023.

Department of Law Enforcement to plan, coordinate, and engage in law enforcement operations to interdict illegal fireworks, develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives into the State, promote compliance with the fireworks control laws, and ensure the safety and security of airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the State against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Adds new sources of revenue generated by the State Veterinary Laboratory and Animal Disease Control Branch as sources for the Animal Industry Special Fund and clarifies that the funds from the special fund may be expended to make laboratory improvements.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Unit (4) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2023-2025.

Requires operators and passengers of motorcycles, motor scooters, to wear a helmet secured by a chin strap. Requires operators of a moped to wear a helmet with a chin strap.

Establishes the Hawaii Educational Expenditure Trust Fund as a separate fund of the Department of Education for improving the education of, and supporting the programs benefiting, the students of the Hawaii public school system.

Prohibits state and county elected officials from soliciting and accepting campaign contributions during any regular session or special session of the state legislature, including any extension of any regular session or special session and any legislative recess days, holidays, and weekends.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Unit (6) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2023-2025.

Adjusts the Department of Education's small purchase threshold to require no less than three quotes for purchases of goods, services, and construction between $5,000 to less than $15,000, and to require no less than three written quotes for purchases of goods and services between $15,000 to less than $100,000 and for purchases of construction between $15,000 to less than $250,000. Exempts the Department of Education from the electronic procurement system requirement for purchases of goods and services less than $100,000 and for purchases of construction less than $250,000.