STAND. COM. REP. NO. 16

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 161

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 161 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish that the representative of labor on the Hawaii Labor Relations Board be a person selected by a majority of the exclusive representatives of the collective bargaining units.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers; Hawaii State Teachers Association; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; and Hawaii Government Employees Association. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining of the Executive Office of the Governor. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the existing process of allowing the Governor to pick a name from a list of three nominees to fill the role of representative of labor provides the Governor with too much authority over the composition of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. Providing a single name to the Governor that has been vetted by the exclusive representatives, with a clear timeframe for the name to be transmitted to the Senate for consideration as well as a default process for Senate confirmation if the deadline is missed, ensures greater fairness, predictability, and transparency in the appointment process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 161, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 161, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair