STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1998

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 999

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 999, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM CIVIL SERVICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to help the Department of Human Services attract and retain qualified, experienced, and innovative individuals to fill certain positions.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Permanently exempts from provisions of the civil service law:

(A) The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness;

(B) Five positions at the Med-QUEST Division; and

(C) Four positions in the Office of the Director of Human Services; and

(2) Temporarily exempts from the civil service law:

(A) The research/health analytics manager in the Med-QUEST Division; and

(B) Certain positions in the Office of the Director of Human Services.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Partners in Care, and Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from Early Childhood Action Strategy.

Your Committee finds that the positions exempted by this measure are required to effectively lead and manage the Department of Human Services' programs, oversee important operational, personnel, fiscal, and technology development matters, and improve access to and quality of department services.

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 H.B. No. 999, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair