STAND. COM. REP. NO.  977-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2845

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF EXEMPT PERSONNEL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE STATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to retain and recruit qualified personnel by allowing the Director of Human Services to appoint and employ certain high level managerial and professional staff, not subject to Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, if the Director determines that the services to be performed are unique and essential to the execution of the functions of the state medical assistance programs.

The Department of Human Services testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee notes that testimony was presented on this measure which expressed concern about allowing the Department of Human Services to appoint certain staff without being subject to Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Your Committee further notes that this measure has an effective date of July 1, 2050, which will allow the opportunity to explore these concerns as the measure moves through your Committees on Labor and Public Employment and Finance.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair