HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2007

 

COMMITTEE ON LABOR & PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

Rep. Alex M. Sonson, Chair

Rep. Bob Nakasone, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Cindy Evans

Rep. Joseph M. Souki

Rep. Sharon E. Har

Rep. Dwight Y. Takamine

Rep. Marilyn B. Lee

Rep. Roy M. Takumi

Rep. Sylvia Luke

Rep. Colleen Rose Meyer

Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey

Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine

Rep. Scott Y. Nishimoto

 

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

TIME:

8:30 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 309

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

HB 1365

RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS.

Clarifies that the Board of Trustees of both the State of Hawaii Deferred Compensation Plan and the State Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan for Part-time, Temporary, and Seasonal or Casual Employees may select and offer participants investment products that are commonly offered in the securities industry or other deferred compensation plans and are determined to the reasonable, prudent investment products.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1366

RELATING TO SEPARATION INCENTIVES.

Clarifies that DHRD's authority for separation incentives is limited to the various departments and agencies of the state executive branch,  excluding the DOE and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1367

RELATING TO SALARIES.

Eliminates statutory relationships between the salaries of specific department heads and deputy department heads and certain civil service positions.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1672

(HSCR82)

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE AGENCIES.

Increases salaries of deputies and first assistants of legislative service agencies from not more than 87% to 92% of the salary of each agency's director.

 

LMG, LAB, FIN

HB 1396

RELATING TO INTEREST ARBITRATION.

Modifies the factors that the arbitration panel must consider in interest arbitration decisions to include: (1) the impact of pay increase to other bargaining units in determining the amount of pay increase; (2) compliance with constitutional and statutory appropriation and budgeting provisions; and (3) the comparison of wages, hours, and conditions of employment to that of other persons performing similar services in Hawaii.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 212

HD1

(HSCR22)

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database on supply, demand, and distribution, by specialty and practice location. (HB 212, HD1)

 

HLT, LAB, FIN

HB 223

HD1

(HSCR32)

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

Earmarks General Excise Taxes generated from health care service providers to support Hawaii's trauma system, health care workforce development, statewide aeromedical evacuation programs, rural hospitals, medical malpractice subsides for subspecialists, Medicaid reimbursement subsidies for health care providers, Keiki Care Program, and support services for people without health insurance.  (HB223 HD1)

 

HLT/HSH, LAB, FIN

HB 16

HD1

(HSCR47)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Repeals the school health services program within the Department of Health.  Repeals the transfer of public health nurses from the Department of Health to the Department of Education.  Establishes a school health services program within the Department of Education.  (HB16 HD1)

 

EDN/HLT, LAB, FIN

HB 18

(HSCR71)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the teacher standards board to suspend its policies, rules, and standards when extenuating circumstances require.

 

EDN, LAB, JUD

HB 24

(HSCR45)

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Provides greater incentives for National Board Certified teachers to work at schools in restructuring under the No Child Left Behind Act, by giving them an additional $5,000 bonus per year.  Appropriates funds.

 

EDN, LAB, FIN

HB 26

(HSCR46)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes salaries for the members of the board of education.  Appropriates funds.

 

EDN, LAB, FIN

HB 106

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Establishes a self-employment assistance program to assist eligible unemployed individuals in starting their own businesses as an alternative to receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 520

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

Redefines "adequate reserve fund" for purposes of unemployment insurance law.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1379

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

The purpose of this bill is to provide the same type of unemployment insurance (UI) coverage in state law as in federal law for the exclusion of certain alien agricultural workers and to conform coverage of Indian tribe workers under state law to federal law.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1385

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Lowers the maximum taxable wage base from $35,300 to the national average of $13,000 for calendar years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.  Amends the definition of "Adequate reserve fund" by reducing from 18 months times the benefit cost rate that is the highest during the ten-year period to 12 months.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1500

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

Raises the maximum weekly unemployment benefit to 75% of the average weekly wage.  Changes employer's contribution rates for the fiscal year 2007-2008 to 65% of amount in effect on 06/30/07, and thereafter to 75% of the amount in effect on 06/30/07.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1502

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

Provides temporary tax relief to employers by lowering the maximum taxable wage base for calendar years 2008 and 2009.  Increases unemployment benefits for eligible individuals.  Excludes the payment of benefits to individuals terminated from employment for wilful or wanton misconduct.

 

LAB, FIN

 

 

 

HB 988's language has been significantly changed in the Proposed House draft 1.  Copies will be available outside room 323 for the public to provide testimony for the Proposed HB988 HD1.

 

HB 988

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

 

LAB, FIN

 

 

 

HB 1279

HD1

(HSCR282)

RELATING TO THE INNOVATION ECONOMY.

Establishes the Hawaii Innovation Investment Fund, a professionally managed fund of funds, and allows the ERS to invest moderate amounts in Hawaii venture capital.  Supports the operations and programs of a State operated technology incubator and innovation center in Kakaako.  Establishes a local incubator facility for digital media infrastructure for film and TV productions and interactive game development.  Establishes a music industry program at Honolulu Community College (MELE).  Provides funds which allows the UH Office of Technology Transfer and Economic Development to enter into a partnership with a private sector entity.  (HB1279 HD1)

 

EDB/HED, LAB, FIN

HB 32

HD1

(HSCR128)

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Prohibits the state from contracting with or providing development assistance to companies that contract work outside of the United States unless the work is not available locally or domestically.  (HB32 HD1)

 

EDB/INT, LAB, FIN

HB 33

HD1

(HSCR172)

RELATING TO THE HAWAII LIVING WAGE LAW.

Requires private firms contracted by state government to pay covered workers a Hawaii living wage of at least $9.43 an hour, to begin on 7/1/07 and adjusted thereafter.  Requires DLIR to implement living wage.  Establishes temporary living wage advisory committee to evaluate law.  Repealed 7/1/2011.  (HB33 HD1)

 

EDB, LAB, FIN

HB 758

RELATING TO EMPLOYEES.

Requires employers to allow rest or meal periods for employees that work more than five consecutive hours.  Clarify the term "other wages" by excluding the reasonable cost of board, lodging, or other facilities.  Repeals the exclusion of persons whose employment is governed by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act from the definition of "employee" under the State's wage and hour law.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 937

RELATING TO ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING TRADES.

Specifies educational requirements for the electrician and plumber trades.

 

LAB, CPC

HB 1750

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Removes the requirement that applicants for state or county public employment must be a resident of Hawaii at the time of application.  Allows the director of a jurisdiction to waive the "residency during employment" requirements for positions within that jurisdiction.

 

LAB, JUD

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 40 COPIES OF THEIR TESTIMONY AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO:  (1)  THE  COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 424, STATE CAPITOL, OR (2)  THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS TESTIMONY DROP OFF BOX IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT.  TESTIMONY MAY ALSO BE FAXED IF LESS THAN 5 PAGES IN LENGTH TO THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT:  586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS).  WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING, AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

 

IT IS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE COPIES BE ON ONE SIDE OF AN 8‑1/2" X 11" SHEET WITH TWO HOLES PUNCHED AT THE TOP.  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586‑6520.

 

IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OR AUXILIARY AIDS AND/OR SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE STATE HOUSE (I.E., SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING DESIGNATED FOR THE DISABLED), PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING SO ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.  PROMPT REQUESTS SUBMITTED HELP TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS.

 

SELECTED HEARINGS ARE BROADCAST  LIVE.  CHECK THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE BROADCAST SCHEDULE ON THE "CAPITOL TV" WEB SITE AT WWW.CAPITOLTV.ORG OR CALL 550-8074 FOR A LISTING.

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Alex M. Sonson

Chair