STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1148

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1573

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1573 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to fund:

(1)  All collective bargaining salary increases and cost items in the agreement negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representatives of collective bargaining units (2),(3),(4),(6),(8),(9), and (13); and

(2)  The salary increases and other cost adjustments authorized by Chapter 89C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for state officers and employees who are excluded from collective bargaining.

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) testified in support of this bill.  The Office of Collective Bargaining supported the intent of this measure.

     Although no sums have been appropriated or authorized from the sources of funding indicated in this measure, your Committee believes that a vehicle for funding these collective bargaining cost items, including salary increases and other cost adjustments, should continue to advance in the Legislature as negotiations between the State and the exclusive bargaining representatives for units (2),(3),(4),(6),(8),(9), and (13) will eventually produce a settlement.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1573, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair