STAND. COM. REP. NO. 476

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 161, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the representative of labor on the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to 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 Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; and Hawaii State Teachers Association. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the existing appointment process for the Hawaii Labor Relations Board does not provide the exclusive representatives of the collective bargaining units enough power in selecting their representative of labor. This measure would redistribute some of the power from the Governor to the exclusive representatives to allow them to nominate their preferred candidate to represent state and county government employees in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 161, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair