STAND. COM. REP. NO.  26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1081

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1081 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC WORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to supplement state enforcement of prevailing wage violations by giving standing to a joint labor-management committee established under section 175a of the federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (29 U.S.C. §175a) (Labor Act) to bring civil actions against employers who fail to pay the prevailing wage to employees. 

     The Hawaii Carpenters Union testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) opposed this measure.

     Your Committee finds that section 175a of the Labor Act authorizes the creation of a joint labor-management committee.  The committee would provide an additional means of enforcing prevailing wages law in cases where the DLIR is not pursuing action.  

     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. 1081 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair