STAND. COM. REP. NO. 66

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 968

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 968 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SERVICES PERFORMED BY CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize establishment of permanent civil service positions for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to provide services historically and customarily performed by civil service employees in connection with creating housing opportunities for homeless individuals and others in need.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and United Public Workers AFSCME Local 646.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority multi-skilled worker program is a crucial component of the State's effort to meet the critical need for public housing in Hawaii, and has reduced the amount of time required to renovate and repair public housing units.  Your Committee further finds that, although funding exists for additional positions within the multi-skilled worker program, the program operates at approximately half of its staffing capacity.  This measure will authorize the creation of permanent civil service positions to bring the multi-skilled worker program to full capacity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 968 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

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

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WILL ESPERO, Chair