Requires veterinarians to provide a written prescription, upon the request of a client, for any animal patient of a client with whom the veterinarian has established an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship, to be filled at the pharmacy of the client's choosing. Allows pharmacies licensed in the State to dispense medications prescribed by veterinarians. Specifies that violators may be subject to disciplinary action by the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine, which may include fines or suspension or revocation of a license. (CD1)
Authorizes the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects to determine the appropriate educational and examination requirements for landscape architect licensure. Clarifies experience requirements for landscape architect licensure. (CD1)
Requires a person who applies for an identification card or driver's license to be automatically registered to vote unless the person affirmatively declines, subject to certain conditions. Requires the name and address of a person who applies for an identification card or driver's license and is registered to vote to be automatically updated on the person's voter registration record unless the person affirmatively declines. Effective 1/1/2027. (CD1)
Expands the protections established under Act 2, SLH 2023, to include gender-affirming health care services, including clarifying permitted disclosures of protected health information to address changes in federal regulations. Establishes protections against abusive litigation. Prohibits medical malpractice insurers and health carriers from taking certain adverse actions against health care providers solely on the basis that the health care provider provides lawful reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services. (SD2)
SB 2727 extends the deadline for filing discrimination complaints with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission from the current timeframe to one year. This change directly affects individuals in Hawaii who experience discrimination and wish to seek redress through the Commission. The key provision modifies the statute of limitations, giving complainants more time to submit formal complaints after an alleged discriminatory act occurs. The bill does not alter the Commission's investigative processes or remedies but focuses solely on the filing period. This is a procedural policy change impacting access to civil rights enforcement.
SB 2818 clarifies the penalties for violating boating and ocean recreation laws under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 200. It directly affects individuals who break boating regulations, such as operating vessels without proper licenses or disregarding safety rules. The bill adjusts specific penalty structures for these violations, making the enforcement guidelines clearer without creating new offenses. This is a procedural clarification to standardize how existing laws are applied in enforcement.
Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to issue a disability travel placard to an applicant who has a valid removeable windshield placard or disabled paid parking exemption permit but does not have a valid special license plate, and provides proof of travel. (SD2)
Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a vacation payout pilot program in which eligible Department of Health employees may defer unused vacation leave credits in favor of a pay out to provide home purchase down payment assistance. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (SD1)
Exempts certain positions in the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health and Hawaii State Hospital from civil service. Authorizes the Director of Health to appoint two additional associate administrators and two project managers for the Hawaii State Hospital or a secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility. Requires the Department of Health to convert certain positions in the Hawaii State Hospital to civil service no later than 6/30/2031. (CD1)
Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of vocational rehabilitation services. Requires certified providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment and the initial evaluation report finds the injured employee feasible to participate. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational rehabilitation plan no later than one hundred twenty days after submitting an initial evaluation report, unless extended by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations. Clarifies the process for an employer to object to a vocational rehabilitation plan. (CD1)
No later than 1/1/2029, requires each county board of water supply to publish a map of its service area and a list of service-restricted areas on their website. Specifies a procedure for responding to certain water availability requests. (CD1)
Clarifies and expands procedures for aggravated circumstances determinations in Child Protective Act proceedings. Authorizes the Family Court to make a finding of aggravated circumstances at any stage of a Child Protective Act proceeding before the termination of parental rights, rather than limiting these findings to the return hearing. Incorporates the definition of torture under the Penal Code for purposes of defining aggravated circumstances involving child torture under the Child Protective Act. (SD1)
