STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1593

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1011

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1011, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to change how disputes between public employers and employee organizations are resolved.

More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Repeals the prohibition on the use of arbitration to resolve disputes relating to the amounts the State and counties contribute to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF);

(2)  Requires the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, upon the failure of disputing parties to timely select a neutral third member for an arbitration panel, to directly furnish a list of arbitrators from which the third member of the panel will be selected;

(3)  Authorizes an arbitration panel to decide on EUTF contributions through binding arbitration; and

(4)  Repeals the prohibition on the right to strike over EUTF contributions.

The Department of Budget and Finance provided testimony in opposition of this measure.  The Office of Collective Bargaining; Hawaii State Teachers Association; and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO provided comments.

     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 S.B. No. 1011, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair