STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3155

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1832

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1832, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIRING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow a state department, division, or agency, rather than the Department of Human Resources Development, to conduct a minimum qualification review of applicants for vacant positions within the department, division, or agency and to immediately interview the applicant; and

(2) Require the Department of Human Resources Development to provide state departments, divisions, and agencies the applications received for vacancies under certain circumstances.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, and United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Department of Transportation; and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committees find that state departments have been plagued with delays in recruitment with much of the delay associated with screening and approval of applications. Additionally, the Department of Human Resources Development has been understaffed for a prolonged period which has undoubtedly caused much of its inability to timely process applications. Therefore, this measure will expedite the application process by giving the departments the power to screen applicants and conduct qualification reviews for vacant positions.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language requiring the Department of Human Resources Development to correct any errors found in a minimum qualification review received from another state department, division, or agency, and notify the state department, division, or agency within five working days;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1832, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1832, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations,

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair

________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair