HONOLULU - Governor Josh Green, M.D., today signed 16 key bills to enhance the protection and care of Hawai?i’s keiki and kupuna and to ensure safety in Hawai?i’s schools. 

“These legislative measures represent a significant step forward in safeguarding our most vulnerable populations - our keiki and kupuna,” said Governor Green.  “Our schools need to be safe environments for learning and our kupuna need to have access to the services they need.” 

The new laws include: 

HB 2400: ADDRESSING TEACHER MISCONDUCT

HB 2400 requires teachers who resign or retire during an investigation into allegations of sexual assault, harassment, or physical abuse, to forfeit their teaching licenses. This forfeiture must be reported to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, which closes the loophole that allows teachers accused of serious misconduct to continue teaching elsewhere if they resign or retire in lieu of being disciplined. The new rules take effect upon approval, ensuring immediate action to protect students and to maintain the integrity of the teaching profession. 

HB 2224: COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM CARE PLAN

HB 2224 requires the Executive Office on Aging, in coordination with the State Health Planning and Development Agency, to create a comprehensive long-term care plan to accomplish certain long-term care policy goals that ensure the availability of a full continuum of institutional and community-based services for Hawai?i’s growing elderly population in Hawai?i with disabilities and chronic conditions. The bill emphasizes the preference for home-based care and aims to develop a comprehensive long-term care plan to ensure a continuum of care services. The bill also appropriates $79,872 for FY 2024-2025 to establish a long-term care planner position. 

SB 2305: ESTABLISHMENT OF A SILVER ALERT PROGRAM

To protect vulnerable seniors and individuals with cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities who go missing, this program will utilize systems like the emergency alert system and wireless emergency alerts to disseminate information quickly and efficiently. The Department of Law Enforcement will develop and implement the program, with activation conditions including age, cognitive impairment, or developmental disability and a credible threat to the individual’s health and safety. The act appropriates $250,000 for FY 2024-2025 to establish and operate the program, effective July 1, 2024. 

SB 2475: CREATION OF A “HARM TO STUDENTS” REGISTRY

SB 2475 establishes a “harm to students” registry to prevent school employees, contractors or volunteers who have inflicted harm on students from gaining employment in schools. Reporting institutions must certify due process, consult the registry before hiring, and share investigation information. The registry is exempt from public disclosure laws, and institutions must defend and indemnify the Department of Education from related liability. 

HB 2430: ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUMMER EBT PROGRAM FOR OUR KEIKI

HB 2430 aims to maximize participation in the federal summer electronic benefits transfer (EBT) for children program. The Department of Education will work with the Department of Human Services to share necessary data and comply with federal regulations. The bill appropriates $53,500 for the Department of Education and $2,050,000 for the Department of Human Services for FY 2024-2025, contingent on matching federal funds. 

“Ensuring that our keiki have access to nutritious meals during the summer months is my administration’s utmost priority. This program will make sure that as many families as possible are participating to enhance our state’s food security and promote healthy development for our keiki,” Green said. 

The complete list of bills signed included the following: 

Click links to see full details of bills enacted into law. 

RELATING TO THE CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT

SB2245 SD1 HD2

RELATING TO MINORS

HB470 HD2 SD2

RELATING TO CHILD CARE

HB2227 HD2 SD1

RELATING TO THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CENTRAL REGISTRY

HB2425 HD2 SD2

RELATING TO RELATIVE RESOURCE CAREGIVERS

HB2426 HD2 SD2

RELATING TO EDUCATION

SB3207 SD2 HD1 CD1

SB2257 SD3 HD1 CD1

SB3305 HD2 CD1 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

SB2070 SD1 HD1 CD1

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING

SB3087 SD1 HD1 CD1

RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM

SB3116 SD2 HD1 CD1

Photos from today’s ceremony, courtesy Office of the Governor, will be uploaded here. 

Governor Green presented this slide deck during the event.

Video of the event can be viewed here.