STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2002
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2018
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2018 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MINIMUM WAGE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the minimum wage from $10.10 per hour to $12.00 per hour beginning on October 1, 2022; to $15.00 per hour beginning on January 1, 2024; and to $18.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2026.
Your
Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department
of Labor and Industrial Relations; Executive Office on Early Learning; Council
Chair of the Maui County Council; Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii; Hawaii
Government Employees Association; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of
Hawaii; Pride @ Work - Hawaii; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Hawaii Health and
Harm Reduction Center; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646; Hawaii Alliance
of Nonprofit Organizations; Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; Hawaii State
Teachers Association; Democratic Party of Hawaii Labor Caucus; Hawaii Workers
Center; Leeward Community College Student Government; AAUW of Hawaii; Hawaii
Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development; HOPE Services Hawaii; League
of Women Voters Hawaii; Faith Action for Community Equity; Hawaii Workers
Center, Raise Up Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Imua
Alliance; Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus; St. Michael the
Archangel Parish; Pono Hawaii Initiative; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive
Action; Living Wage Hawaii; Community Alliance on Prisons; Hawaii State
AFL-CIO; Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council; Leeward Community
College Student Government; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic
Justice; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture
Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts, Local 665; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Ai
Pohaku; Hawaii Public Health Institute; and numerous individuals.
Your Committee received
written comments in opposition to this measure from Island Pacific Bags, Inc.; Hawaii
Food Manufacturers Association; Society of Human Resource Management; National
Federation of Independent Business; Hawaii Restaurant Association; Associated
Builders and Contractors Hawaii Chapter; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Envisions
Entertainment and Productions, Inc.; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; Retail
Merchants of Hawaii; Magics Beach Grill; Tiki's Grill & Bar; Shorefyre/Skybox;
Beast Culinary Company, LLC, d/b/a: Da Sugar Mill Bistro; Hawaii Republican Party;
Language Services Hawaii, LLC; Il Gelato Hawaii; and five individuals.
Your Committee received
written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance,
Common Cause Hawaii, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii
Food Industry Association, and Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.
Your Committee finds
that incrementally increasing the minimum wage so that it reaches $18.00 per
hour beginning on January 1, 2026, is an appropriate way to address inflation
and the increased cost of living in the State.
Your Committee requests
that, as the minimum wage increases over time, the Department of Budget and
Finance ensure that all state employees be paid no less than the applicable minimum
wage rate.
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. 2018 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 |
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