STAND. COM. REP. NO 152

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 981

       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 S.B. No. 981 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII LABOR RELATIONS BOARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Allow the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to provide written notice of a hearing under the Hawaii occupational safety and health law by first class mail or electronic service through a company designated by the Board at least fifteen days before the hearing; and

     (2)  Require the party seeking review of a decision and order of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to bear the cost of preparing a transcript, except as provided by law, in which case the Board shall bear the cost.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Labor Relations Board and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

     Your Committee finds that under existing law, the Hawaii Labor Relations Board may give notices of hearings to a party by first class mail.  However, the electronic service of notices is a faster and less expensive method of delivery.  Implementation of this measure will reduce costs and provide a more efficient process to accommodate all parties.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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 S.B. No. 981, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 981, 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