Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 864, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce turnover in certain Department of Human Services positions in the Child Welfare Services Branch by converting thirty-nine from temporary exempt positions to permanent civil service status.

Specifically, the bill converts to civil service status the following temporary exempt positions within the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services:

(1) Thirty-one case support services aide positions; and

(2) Eight multi-agency case coordinator positions.

The bill also allows an incumbent exempt employee in the temporary position to receive a civil service probationary appointment to the newly created civil service position that replaces the employee's current position if the employee has performed satisfactorily for six months or more and satisfies the minimum qualifications, without taking a civil service examination. The employee's pay is to be comparable to the pay rate of other civil service employees in comparable positions with the same length of service and the employee does not lose employee benefits accrued in the temporary exempt position.

Your Committee finds that converting the thirty-nine temporary exempt positions to permanent will aid the Department of Human Services in hiring and retaining staff in the Child Welfare Services Branch. This program's critical services ensure safety and permanency of children in their own homes, or in out-of-home placements if needed. Reports indicate that child abuse or neglect has increased significantly and it is crucial that the Child Welfare Services Branch have adequate staff to protect our children. The Department of Human Services has reported frequent changes in staffing because of the temporary exempt status of these thirty-nine positions. Your Committee believes that converting these temporary positions to permanent status will make the positions more attractive to job applicants and will assist the Child Welfare Services Branch in fulfilling its responsibilities to keep our at-risk children safe.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 864, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.