HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	145
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO RECOMMEND A STATUTORY DEFINITION OF "UNDEREMPLOYMENT".

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Revised Statutes does not contain a definition of "underemployment"; and

     WHEREAS, there are no county ordinances, administrative rules, or legislative measures passed in the past few years defining "underemployment"; and

     WHEREAS, despite extensive use of the term in economic studies and government reports, including the Hawaii Workforce Development Council's 2007 Report to the Governor and 2005 Report to the Governor on the Year Four Implementation of the Workforce Investment Act (2005 Report) and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' "Workforce Investment Act Asian Pacific Islander Earmark Grant," the term remains vague and broad; and

     WHEREAS, the term is used extensively by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in workforce development programs and issues; and

     WHEREAS, the 2005 Report, as well as previous reports over the years, includes a definition of "underemployed" as "an individual who is working part-time but desires full‑time employment, or an individual whose employment is not commensurate with the individual's demonstrated level of educational attainment"; and

     WHEREAS, having a definition for this term could also be useful for purposes of calculating the amount of child support payments due from a parent who may not be fully employed or otherwise considered to be below full earning capacity; and

     WHEREAS, unofficial estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report over 24,000 underemployed individuals in the State of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, a statutory definition of the term would be of immense help to monitor Hawaii's true economic condition and labor productivity, which would enable elected officials and executive branch administrators to make more informed and educated decisions affecting the livelihood of the people of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, a search of other state laws indicates that the following states have statutory definitions of underemployment:  California, Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, which could serve as possible models for Hawaii; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study to recommend a definition of "underemployment" in the various contexts as it is used in state and county governments; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a review of other state and federal laws; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to consult for purposes of the study with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawaii Workforce Development Council; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency; appropriate county agencies; appropriate federal agencies; the U.S. Census Bureau; major labor unions; and major employer associations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau; the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Underemployment; Task Force Study