STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1424

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 55

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Technology, 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 and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of the 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; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and National Elevator Industry, Inc.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development.

Your Committee finds that a lack of qualified elevator inspectors in the State is negatively impacting local private businesses and the regulatory work of the Boiler and Elevator Inspection Branch of the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The Branch struggles to recruit and retain qualified personnel due to outdated hiring practices and significant pay differentials with the private sector. Due to the staffing shortage, the Branch has been forced to adopt a triage-style approach to inspections that prioritizes new construction but fails to stem the growing backlog of uninspected elevators. The inspection backlog exacerbates construction delays, increases costs, and risks public safety. This measure will address the backlog by examining solutions to its root cause: the Boiler and Elevator Inspection Branch's staffing shortage.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology 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 and Technology,

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HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair