STAND. COM. REP. NO. 694

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1126

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1126, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JOB-SHARING FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the executive, judicial, and legislative branches to establish a voluntary job-sharing program.

     More specifically, this measure authorizes the executive branch, the judicial branch, the legislative reference bureau, the office of the auditor, and the office of the ombudsman to establish voluntary job-sharing programs for their permanent, full-time employees.

     Your Committee received one written comment on this measure.  The written comment may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that flexible employment opportunities are needed to meet changing social and economic conditions in Hawaii.  Your Committee also finds that job-sharing is a feasible, desirable, and cost-effective work arrangement that provides employees with flexibility, decreases worker turnover and absenteeism, increases worker productivity, and improves worker morale.  Your Committee believes that this measure will encourage state agencies to examine appropriate uses of job-sharing as a means of improving government operations and retaining qualified employees.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the definition of the term "job-sharing" by removing all instances of the phrase "one-half" and replacing it with an unspecified portion of the total number of monthly work hours required and the salary and benefits received;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2090, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1126, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1126, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair