STAND. COM. REP. NO.  625

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 919

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 919 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist certain target populations in becoming contributing members of the community.

     More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Exempts persons who have committed controlled-substance-related offenses from automatic disqualification from public employment if the position is exempt from the civil service, provided that reasonable safeguards exist to protect employees and the public; and

(2)  Clarifies civil service exemptions for positions filled by persons with severe disabilities or by students and for positions filled through federally funded programs or similar state programs.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Community Alliance on Prisons.

     Your Committee finds that repealing the automatic disqualification from public employment for persons convicted of a controlled-substance-related offense will facilitate the successful reintegration of ex-offenders into the community.  Your Committee also finds that updating and expanding civil service exemptions will enable the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to assist other target populations who require more supervision and training to become productive members of the workforce.

     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. 919 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair