STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1471

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.C.R. No. 89

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development & Business and Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 89 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONVENE A BASIC ECONOMIC SECURITY WORKING GROUP,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address income inequality and economic survival in a post-automation economy by, among other things:

(1)  Declaring that all families in Hawaii deserve basic financial security and it is in the public interest to ensure economic sustainability for Hawaii residents; and

(2)  Requesting that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism convene a Basic Economic Security Working Group (Working Group) to address the potential for significant economic disruption and ensure the economic sustainability of Hawaii's individuals and families in light of future automation, innovation, and disruption, and specifically:

(A)  Assess Hawaii's job market exposure to automation, technologies, globalization, and disruptive innovation;

(B)  Assess Hawaii's existing spending on social safety net programs and other relevant expenditures;

(C)  Identify and analyze options to ensure economic security;

(D)  Monitor studies, trials, and efforts in Hawaii and other jurisdictions relevant to the Working Group;

(E)  Seek out partnerships to publish or fund relevant trials or studies to evaluate options; and

(F)  Report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of each Regular Session.

Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, UNITE HERE Local 5, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1260, AFL-CIO, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development & Business and Labor & Public Employment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 89 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development & Business and Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair

____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair