A ban on the use of mobile devices while driving — already outlawed under separate county jurisdictions — begins statewide on Monday.

The ban and a slate of new laws are scheduled to kick in July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

Among other things, homeland security duties and operations will be coordinated under a single statewide office, county fire chiefs will be tasked with the authority to ensure that building plans comply with fire codes, and specific responsibilities and protections are being laid out for property owners who want to perform home improvements and construction projects on their own using an owner-builder contractor license.

Recklessly providing alcohol to minors could bring misdemeanor charges, more people will fall under the definition of "qualified Native Hawaiian" for the purposes of establishing the Native Hawaiian roll, and a health care transformation program would be established under the governor’s office.

Meanwhile, July 1 annually marks when state and county budgets go into effect, infusing funds to existing programs along with any new initiatives and triggering various financial components enacted by lawmakers during past legislative sessions.

Among the larger appropriations measures that kick in are two putting a total of $100 million into the state’s cash reserves: $50 million each to the hurricane fund (Senate Bill 1092) and the rainy-day fund (SB 1094).

A separate measure (House Bill 546) would put the state and counties on an annual payment schedule for addressing the unfunded liability in the public-worker health care fund.

The measure on mobile devices comes after counties already have enacted separate ordinances to ban the practice. Exceptions to the new law would be using the phone to make 911 calls or calls made by emergency responders. Adults may use hands-free devices such as Bluetooth headsets, but drivers under 18 may not.

"While all counties have some form of a distracted-driving ordinance in place, this measure establishes a state law that creates consistent requirements across all counties for the use of mobile electronic devices while driving and will simplify enforcement," Gov. Neil Abercrombie said after signing the bill in May.

Other bills were signed into law recently.

Abercrombie was busy last week signing legislation ahead of a July 9 deadline to approve bills or have them go into law without his signature. He presented a list to the Legislature of nine bills he may veto, none of which lawmakers say they are likely to override.

The signed bills included SB 680, establishing a state Office of Homeland Security within the state Department of Defense and authorize the creation of county agencies. County agencies are optional.

The state office would coordinate with counties, other state and federal agencies and the private sector to educate and train publicly and privately employed workers and the general public to be prepared for potential attacks.

In signing the bill last week, surrounded by representatives of various state and county civil defense officials, Abercrombie noted that the new law is very specific in directing the new office and establishing its mission.

"This legislation is, in fact, definitive," he said. "It’s meant very, very clearly not to leave anything to the chance or the dangers of an administrative hearings process.

"This bill is not written as a referendum on popular opinion. This bill is not put forward with a rather broad statement of legislative intent, but rather a highly specified admonition to the state and to the constituent defense agencies."

Maj. Gen. Darryl Wong, state adjutant general and director of state Civil Defense, called the measure vital to protecting the islands "as we move forward in the age of cybersecurity and critical infrastructure."

Other bills passed in 2013 signed recently into law by the governor include:

» SB 682: Clarifies the authority of county fire chiefs to examine building plans to ensure their compliance with county fire codes and requires the issuance of permits before work may begin.

» SB 1077: Sets specific requirements and responsibilities for owner-builders exempted from contractor licensing and sets fines based on circumstances of particular cases.

» SB 442: Amends misdemeanor offense of promoting intoxicating liquor to a person under 21 to apply to those who "recklessly," rather than "knowingly," commit the offense.

» HB 785: Amends definition of "qualified Native Hawaiian" to include individuals who meet certain expanded ancestry requirements. Specifies the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission is responsible for certifying as qualified Native Hawaiians for enrollment purposes all individuals already registered as Hawaiians or Native Hawaiians through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

» HB 656: Initiates a temporary program in the governor’s office to spearhead a statewide health care transformation, to "effectively harness new or improved approaches, concepts and initiatives that have the potential to have a positive impact on the cost and quality of health care."

Also Monday, new registration and licensing requirements, including training, instruction and continuing education, are set to begin for private security guards. The measure was passed in 2010 and became law as Act 208 without the governor’s signature.

Although those not registered by Monday would be barred from continuing to work as security guards, including those already working such jobs, the Board of Private Detectives and Guards under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said last week it would allow some to continue working past the deadline even if their application has not been completely processed.

Those who filed the necessary paperwork on time may continue to work pending approval. If approved, a registration card would be issued retroactive to July 1. Rejected applicants could face penalties for engaging in unregistered guard activity.