STAND. COM. REP. NO.  77-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2473

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2473 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKPLACE PRACTICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address the issue of workplace bullying by making abusive conduct against an employee in the workplace a violation of the occupational safety and health law.

     ILWU Local 142; Hawaii Government Employees' Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; United Public Workers, Local 646; and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The City and County of Honolulu and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii opposed this measure.  A concerned individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee recognizes that an economic turnaround hinges on productive businesses that can effectively manage operations and execute business plans.  Unfortunately, the ability of companies to achieve these goals is compromised when their employees are subject to unhealthy, abusive workplace environments.  The physical and psychological harm suffered by such employees can negatively impact job performance and job safety, imposing a substantial burden on businesses.

     Your Committee notes that this legislation is important in generating much-needed discussion of an underappreciated problem, in spite of substantive concerns raised by opponents of this measure and technical errors that may be found in this bill.

     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. 2473 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair