HB 1678 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus (LGBTQ+) Commission within the Department of Human Services as a permanent body to address the needs and equity of LGBTQ+ individuals in state government.

• Creates a 13-member commission consisting of 6 ex officio nonvoting members (superintendent of education, University of Hawaii president, directors of labor, human resources, human services, and health) and 7 appointed voting members selected by the governor (one each from Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui counties; four from Honolulu).

• Authorizes commission powers including serving as a clearinghouse for LGBTQ+ information, recommending legislative action, promoting public awareness, and submitting annual reports with recommendations to the governor and legislature.

• Requires each county mayor to establish a county committee on LGBTQ+ affairs to develop information about community status and submit proposals to the state commission; county committee members serve four-year terms without compensation.

• Establishes a Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission Trust Fund as a private charitable trust administered by a private trust company to receive donations and earn investment income exclusively for commission programs.