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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
92 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
WHEREAS, section 26-20, Hawaii Revised Statutes, creates a Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that is headed by a single executive, the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations administers programs designed to increase the economic security, physical and economic well-being, and productivity of workers, and to achieve good labor-management relations, including the administration of workers' compensation, employment security, apprenticeship training, and wage and hour and industrial relations laws, as provided in Title 21, Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations also develops, prepares, and disseminates information on employment, unemployment, and general labor market conditions; and
WHEREAS, reductions-in-force during the last recession have severely impacted the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' personnel resources by reducing its total number of full-time employees so much so as to have eliminated entire sections and branches within the Department, leaving some departmental responsibilities unfulfilled; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' annual report for fiscal year 2012 reported that many divisions are still struggling with staffing issues and laden with work that is slowly being processed, with each area working hard despite the thin ranks; and
WHEREAS, appropriations for filling of some personnel resources have been effective since January 1, 2014, but are still in the recruitment process, while other personnel resources remain far below pre-reductions-in-force levels; and
WHEREAS, due to reductions-in-force, some departmental employees have had to perform additional responsibilities concurrent with their primary responsibilities and work overtime without overtime pay to fulfill departmental responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, according to some sources, other departmental employees are receiving overtime and additional pay when they are not entitled to such pay, which is a misuse of limited personnel resources; and
WHEREAS, concerns have been raised about the management and operations of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which have caused lengthy delays in processing and backlogs through the Department; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State Auditor is requested to conduct a management audit of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit include but not be limited to:
(1) The general operations of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations;
(2) The organizational structure of the Department, including personnel practices and staffing coverage;
(3) Internal budgeting and fiscal controls to ensure effective and appropriate expenditure of legislative appropriations and matching federal funds designated for exempt employees; and
(4) Any other matters the State Auditor deems appropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Auditor submit to the Legislature and the Governor a report of findings and recommendations no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, and State Auditor.
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Audit