STAND. COM. REP. NO. 614
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: H.B. No. 1146
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1146 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to help ensure the professionalism of social workers by, among other things:
(1) Prohibiting the Department of Human Resources
Development (DHRD) from eliminating or replacing the social workers classifications that existed on July 1, 2004; and
(2) Restoring the social worker class if it is eliminated or replaced before the effective date of this bill.
The National Association of Social Workers - Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and many concerned individuals supported this bill. HGEA supported the intent of this measure. DHRD, Department of Public Safety, Department of Health, and Hawaii Paroling Authority testified in opposition to this bill.
Your Committee finds that it is important to continue to reserve the title and requirements of the social worker classification to uphold the quality of care given to persons in need of their services. Although many executive departments are in dire need of social workers and reclassification has been able to help them with this dilemma, your Committee finds that use of the title "social worker" by an individual not specifically trained in the social work profession is misleading and may result in decreased public safety.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requiring that, upon the required restoration of the social worker class should the class be eliminated, all social workers admitted to this restored class hold an advanced degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree, or doctorate degree in social work;
(2) Clarifying that all individuals meeting the qualifications for the restored social worker class that transferred from the eliminated social worker class or, prior to July 15, 2004, were employed in a social worker or human services professional position or any other position in the class that replaced the social worker class shall be transferred into the restored social worker class;
(3) Requiring DHRD to create a new class of worker;
(4) Specifying that any individual that transferred from the eliminated social worker class or was employed prior to July 15, 2004, in a social worker or human services professional position or any position in the class that replaces the eliminated class of social worker who does not meet the qualifications established for the restored social worker class shall be transferred into this newly created class;
(5) Changing the effective date from upon approval to July 1, 2050, to encourage of further discussion; and
(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1146, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1146, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,
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____________________________ KIRK CALDWELL, Chair |
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