STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3214

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 114

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 114 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CREATING A WORKING GROUP TO RE-ENGINEER THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to establish a working group to review the functions and processes of its Office of Human Resources and recommend and assist in implementing re-engineering efforts to update, streamline, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the office.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Government Employees Association.  Testimony in opposition of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that the Office of Human Resources is tasked with the inimitable job of processing the placement and payment and maintaining the records of thousands of Department personnel.  The Office of Human Resources is currently converting its hardcopy records into electronic systems and, for an entity that has been criticized for its delay in processing applications and paychecks, loss of records, difficulty in information search, and user unfriendliness, assistance appears warranted.  This measure requests the Department of Education to convene a working group to review the functions and processes of its Office of Human Resources and recommend and assist in implementing re-engineering efforts.

     Testimony received by the Department of Education indicated that in 2007 it contracted the services of Accuity LLP to conduct a comprehensive assessment of its Office of Human Resources.  The assessment is anticipated to be completed in August 2008.  The Department suggested that the establishment of an advisory group to assist the Office of Human Resources in implementing the recommendations of Accuity would be appropriate and appreciated.  Your Committee determines that an advisory group can provide great assistance to the Department in improving the efficiency and efficacy of its operations.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the request that the Department of Education convene a working group to review the functions and processes of its Office of Human Resources and recommend and assist in implementing re-engineering efforts to update, streamline, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Office;

     (2)  Requesting the Department of Education to convene an advisory group to assist the Office of Human Resources in implementing the recommendations of the assessment conducted by Accuity, and changing the title and providing supporting facts therefor; and

     (3)  Requesting the advisory group to report to the Legislature prior to the 2009 and 2010 Regular Sessions.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 114, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 114, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair