I. Strengthening and Expanding the Safety Net
NASW supports legislative efforts to uphold the financial safety net that is necessary to ensure the well-being and health of the people of Hawai‘i.
(SB2609) Relating to Minimum Hourly Wage: Increases minimum wage rate to $8.20 per hour beginning on 01/01/15, $9.15 per hour beginning on 01/01/16, and $10.10 per hour beginning on 01/01/17.
(SB2207 - HB1806) Relating to Income: Reduces or eliminates the state income tax liability for taxpayers with a federal adjusted gross income of less than 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines set forth each year by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.
(SB2032 - HB2172) Relating to Violence Against Health Care Personnel: Adds intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to medical services providers to assault in the second degree offense. Expands the medical services providers to which the offense would apply. (SD1)
(SB 92 - HB 519) Relating to Housing: The purpose is to appropriate funds to the department of human services to support the State’s housing first programs in assisting Hawai‘i chronically homeless who are often the most vulnerable, most visible, and most difficult to serve.
(SB2442 - HB 2499) Relating to Affordable Housing: Appropriates funds for the rental housing trust fund to build affordable rental housing projects, including projects with micro units, family units, and elder housing units.
(SB 2209 - HB 1792) Relating to Higher Education: Requires the board of regents to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing a plan at the University of Hawaii that will allow students to pay a fixed percentage of their income for a set number of years after graduation rather than pay tuition while attending school.
II. Protection of Vulnerable Children and the Elderly
(SB2772 - HB1576) RELATING TO FOSTER CARE SERVICES. Increase in Monthly Board Rate for Foster Care Services; Makes an appropriation. Requires DHS to report on impact of board rate increase. Effective July 1, 2050.
(SB2523 - HB 2097) Relating to Employment. Family Leave; Partial Wage Replacement:
Requires twelve weeks of partially-paid leave at a maximum of sixty-six per cent of regular salary for all employees. Establishes trust fund funded by employee contributions. Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for positions to administer the trust fund. Effective July 1, 2014.
(SB 2211 – HB 1790) – Relating to Youth. – Keiki Caucus Package; Requires the office of youth services to coordinate a two-year safe places for youth pilot program to establish a network of safe places where youth can access safety and services. Establishes the position of safe places for youth program coordinator. Makes appropriation. Effective July 1, 2050.
(SB 2204 - HB 1789) Relating to Minors – Conversion Therapy; Sexual Orientation; Minors – Keiki Caucus Package:
Prohibits teachers and persons who are licensed to provide professional counseling from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under eighteen years of age.
III. Elder Abuse/Fraud
(SB 2228 – HB 2056) Relating to Aging. Long Term Care Education & Awareness Campaign:
Part I: Establishes a fall prevention and early detection coordinator within Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch. Appropriates funds.
Part II: Removes hiring requirement by director of health in accordance to chapters 76 and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the position of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator. Appropriates funds for the Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator. Appropriates funds for various kupuna, aging, disability, and senior center programs.
Part III: Requires the executive office on aging of the department of health to conduct an education and awareness campaign on long-term care and have the campaign independently evaluated. Appropriates funds.
Part IV: Establishes and appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent permanent prevention of elder abuse and fraud position under the executive office on aging.
Part V: Appropriates funds for awareness and education of elder abuse, neglect, and fraud.
IV. Education and Continuing Education
(SB3034 ) Relating to the Hawaii Child Welfare Education Collaboration: Appropriates funds to restore the Hawaii child welfare education collaboration to assist with the recruitment and training of graduate students from the University of Hawaii Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work for child welfare positions at the department of human services.
(SB2465 HB2030) Relating to Continuing Education. Psychologists: Requires psychologists in the State of Hawaii to complete a minimum of eighteen credit hours of continuing education courses during each licensing renewal biennium, beginning July 1, 2016.
(HB2031- SB2466) Relating to Continuing Education for Marriage and Family Therapists: Requires licensed marriage and family therapists to complete a minimum of forty-five hours of continuing education courses, including six hours in ethic courses, during each licensing renewal period, for the period beginning January 1, 2017, and thereafter.
(SB 2374 – HB 2491) – Relating to Child Welfare: Child Custody Evaluator; Fact Finder; Qualifications (Marriage Family Therapist included):
Increases training requirements for court appointed child custody evaluators. Establishes child custody fact finder requirements and duties.
