STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2106

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 55

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 55 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE BOILER AND ELEVATOR INSPECTION BRANCH TO INCREASE PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Boiler and Elevator Inspection Branch to increase personnel recruitment and retention.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Waltz Engineering, Inc.; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaiian Electric; Otis Elevator Company; National Elevator Industry, Inc.; International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 126; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has oversight and conducts inspections of pressure retaining items, such as boilers, pressure vessels, pressure systems, amusement rides, elevators, and kindred equipment, to ensure their safe operation. The inspections conducted by the Department's Boiler and Elevator Inspection Branch are an essential service to ensure public safety. Your Committee further finds that the Branch is severely understaffed, resulting in a backlog of safety inspections of elevators and other equipment. Your Committee believes that a comparative analysis of the operations and staffing of the Department's Boiler and Elevator Inspection Branch and similar regulatory branches in other states may offer valuable insights for resolving the staffing shortage and improving the efficacy of the Branch.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 55 and recommends its adoption.

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

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JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair