STAND. COM. REP. NO. 575

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 981, S.D. 1, 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 address proceedings related to, and appeal of administrative decisions made by, the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

     More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Allows the Board to send written notice of an appeals board hearing by electronic service through a company designated by the board; and

(2)  Provides that the party that seeks review of an appeals board decision and order shall bear the cost of preparing a transcript except as otherwise provided by law, in which case the appeals board bears the cost.

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

     Your Committee finds that in the twenty-first century, the use of electronic communication for official purposes is commonplace, efficient, and cost effective.  Currently, the Hawaii Labor Relations Board is required to send notice of an appeals board hearing through first class mail.  Allowing the Board to use electronic communication rather than the postal service to notify parties of an appeals board hearing will avoid postage costs and save time spent on preparation of physical notices.

     Your Committee further finds that current law is silent on the issue of which party bears the cost of preparing a transcript for review of a decision and order of the appeals board.  Your Committee believes that allocation of that cost by this measure is equitable and will prevent confusion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 981, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair