STAND. COM. REP. NO.  809

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1565

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1565 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to fund the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund costs:

(1)  In the agreement negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative of collective bargaining unit (1); and

(2)  Authorized by Chapter 89C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for state officers and employees in the executive branch who are excluded from collective bargaining.

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association Managerial and Confidential Employees Chapter 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 this collective bargaining cost item should continue to advance in the Legislature as negotiations between the State and the exclusive bargaining representative for unit (1) will eventually produce a settlement.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 1565, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1565, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair