HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	226
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting THAT the comptroller convene a working group to review and recommend improvements to state facilities to maximize health and COGNITIVE function.

WHEREAS, individuals who work in state facilities provide a variety of crucial services to the people of Hawaii at the expense of the taxpayer; and

WHEREAS, any use of taxpayer dollars should be maximized; and

WHEREAS, a joint study conducted by Harvard University, the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, and Syracuse University linked green office environments with higher cognitive function scores; and

WHEREAS, the study found that people who work in well-ventilated offices with below-average levels of indoor pollutants and carbon dioxide have significantly higher cognitive function scores in crucial areas such as responding to a crisis or developing strategy than those who work in offices with typical levels; and

WHEREAS, the cognitive function scores of participants who worked in green buildings were, on average, between sixty-one percent and one hundred one percent higher than those who did not work in green buildings; and

WHEREAS, these findings were consistent with years of prior research demonstrating that improved indoor environmental quality is associated with better health outcomes for workers; and

WHEREAS, improving the health and development of state workers is in the best interest of the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the Senate concurring, that the Comptroller is requested to convene a Healthy Workplace Working Group, a task force, to review and recommend improvements to state facilities that will maximize the health and cognitive functions of individuals working inside the facilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Healthy Workplace Working Group shall consist of the following members or their designees:

(1) The Comptroller, who shall serve as chair of the Working Group;

(2) Two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) Two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) The Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and

(5) The Chief Information Officer; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Healthy Workplace Working Group shall invite a representative from the United States Green Building Council and a representative from the Honolulu Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to participate in the Working Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Healthy Workplace Working Group may invite other interested parties to participate in the Working Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the Healthy Workplace Working Group shall serve without compensation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Healthy Workplace Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Comptroller, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Chief Information Officer.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Healthy Workplace Working Group