Governor Ben Cayetano has signed the following bills into law: Driver’s license renewal
by mail, van-cam repeal
among new lawsBy Stephanie Healea
shealea@starbulletin.com>> House Bill 2167, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 1. Repeals the law authorizing the use of a photo traffic enforcement system. Effective: April 30.
>> House Bill 2199, House Draft 1: Allows a restaurant or bar to permit a patron to take home wine he or she didn't finish if the bottle is recorked or resealed. Effective: April 25.
>> House Bill 1725, House Draft 1: Allows for the renewal of driver's licenses by mail, including licenses of people who are out of state. Effective: April 25.
>> House Bill 2232, House Draft 1: Strengthens the Whistleblowers Protection Act. It protects an employee who reports violations or suspected violations of law to his or her employer and also protects those who report a government contract violation. It extends the statute of limitations to two years from 90 days to bring a lawsuit against the employer for retaliation and establishes a range of fines from $500 to $5,000 for each violation. Effective: April 26.
>> Senate Bill 2881, Senate Draft 1: Extends Hawaii's demonstration program at Maluhia Hospital, known as the program for all-inclusive care for the elderly, which was established by the 1991 Legislature. Effective: June 29.
>> House Bill 57, House Draft 2: Extends the term during which privately funded industrial hemp research can take place in Hawaii to June 30, 2005.
>> Senate Bill 2769: Permits some facilities that provide services to mentally ill adults to require accreditation or certification rather than licensing. Effective: April 25.
>> Senate Bill 2094, Senate Draft 2: Makes the Health Insurance Reimbursement Act permanent. Clarifies and attempts to make it easier for health care providers and health insurance providers to communicate with one another and get claims and reimbursements paid in a timely and efficient manner. Effective: June 30.
>> House Bill 2507, House Draft 3: Repeals Section 338-29 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires registration of divorces and annulments with the Department of Health, since the courts already keep such records. Effective: Jan. 1, 2003.
>> House Bill 1093: Prohibits campaign activities at Washington Place. Effective: April 25.