STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3573

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1556

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1556, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Amend chapter 88, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to clarify that people who are employed at the University of Hawaii and are also elective officers are prohibited from earning any additional benefits as a result of holding the second position; and

     (2)  Authorize the University of Hawaii to employ people who are candidates for, or are elected to, a non-statewide or non-countywide public office as casual employees in a non-executive or non-managerial position at the University.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Employees' Retirement System and University of Hawai‘i System.

     Your Committee finds that this measure allows employees of the University of Hawaii to contribute to their community by holding a public office without first sacrificing their employment at the University and vice versa.  Your Committee also finds that expanding the pools of candidates for public office and for employment at the University is a benefit to the public offices, the University, and the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1556, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair