STAND. COM. REP. NO.  669-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2937

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2937, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to amend the collective bargaining process by:

     (1)  Allowing parties to resolve impasses or disputes relating to the amounts the State and counties shall contribute to the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund by allowing parties to submit recommendations to the arbitration panel; and

     (2)  Specifying that the arbitration panel has authority to render a final and binding decision with respect to these contributions, thereby removing the Legislature from this role.

     The Office of Collective Bargaining, Department of Budget and Finance, and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly testified in opposition to this bill.  The Hawaii Government Employees' Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO and United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to                    encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  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. 2937, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2937, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair