STAND. COM. REP. NO. 157

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 284

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 284 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to acquire a deeper understanding of the causes and sources of underemployment, poverty wages, and the economic impacts on society, business, and state budget by requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to:

(1) Compile data on employers that have numerous employees enrolled in public assistance programs; and

(2) Submit to the Legislature an annual report identifying the 50 employers having the highest number of employees who were public assistance recipients during the previous fiscal year and the cost to the State of providing public assistance to these employees.

The Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women and Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice testified in support of this measure. DHS and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that this measure will require DLIR to assist DHS in the form of sharing employment data. DLIR is willing to enter into an information sharing agreement with DHS to ensure that any disclosure of information from workers and employers remains confidential. DLIR is also aware that cost or resource restrictions may need to be worked out with DHS.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 284, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 284, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair