STAND. COM. REP. NO. 738

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 616

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 616, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide increased protection for educational workers by requiring the Department of Education and state public charter schools to take certain steps to better address the harassment of educational workers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the many instances of harassment inflicted on educational workers warrants the establishment of procedures to safeguard the health and safety of educational workers. Your Committee also finds that safe schools are fundamental to creating and fostering an optimal learning and working environment. School safety is linked to improved student performance and school outcomes. This measure recognizes the necessity of safeguarding educational workers to enable optimal delivery of educational services to students and families and maintaining a safe learning and working environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that educational workers included in bargaining units must negotiate leaves of absence pursuant to certain negotiation processes; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 616, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 616, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair