STAND. COM. REP. NO. 935

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 110

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 110, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund costs and other cost adjustments for certain legislative officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates unspecified amounts to the:

     (1)  State Ethics Commission;

     (2)  Office of the Auditor;

     (3)  Office of the Legislative Reference Bureau;

     (4)  Office of the Ombudsman;

     (5)  Senate; and

     (6)  House of Representatives.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Ombudsman, Hawaii State Ethics Commission, and Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committee finds that the negotiations for collective bargaining agreements are currently in progress.  Your Committee also finds that the officers and employees of the Legislature and the legislative service agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.  This measure provides a legislative vehicle to appropriate sufficient funds for public employment cost items and cost adjustments for those staff members.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 110, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 110, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair