STAND. COM. REP. NO. 963

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 340

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 340, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the Hawaii Labor Relations Board has the authority to enforce its own orders issued pursuant to state law governing collective bargaining in public employment, in addition to discretion to seek judicial enforcement of its orders under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Labor Relations Board is a quasi-judicial agency that administers public sector collective bargaining and prohibited practices and certain private sector collective bargaining and unfair labor practices. Your Committee further finds that existing statute provides that the Hawaii Labor Relations Board may petition the appropriate circuit court to enforce an order of the Board, but does not require that the Board do so. Additionally, the Hawaii Administrative Rules specify mechanisms for the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to enforce its own orders. This measure clarifies in statute that the Hawaii Labor Relations Board has the existing power to enforce its own orders.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 340, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair