Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 294, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to assist low-income workers in Hawaii by raising the minimum wage to $6.75 per hour beginning January 1, 2006, and $7.25 per hour beginning January 1, 2007.

The Hawaii State AFL-CIO, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and several concerned individuals supported this bill. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and a concerned individual supported this bill with amendments. The Hawaii Restaurant Association, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Marians Catering, Pearl Country Club, Prime Care Services Hawaii, Inc., Hawaiian Housewares, Ltd., Standard Parking, City Mill Company, Ltd., Pacific Guardian Life, Big City Diner, Gyotaku Japanese Restaurants, Aloha Petroleum, Ltd., The Hawaii Business League, National Federation of Independent Business-HAWAII, Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Cardinal Mailing Services, CTA Staffing, Hawaiian Fruit Specialties, LLC, Hauoli Hosale, Recycling Solutions, LLC, Badboy Hawaii, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, and a concerned citizen opposed this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 294, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.