STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1068-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2720

H.D. 3

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2720, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a collective bargaining unit for graduate assistants employed by the University of Hawaii and its community college system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from UNITE HERE Local 5; Hawaii State Teachers Association; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Academic Labor United; Rainbow Family 808; Pride at Work - Hawaiʻi; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Labor Caucus; Academic Labor United; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Graduate Student Organization; National Education Association; University of Hawaiʻi Student Caucus; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 153, AFL-CIO; and Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board.

Your Committee has amended this measure by reverting to the H.D. 1 version, which exempts graduate assistants employed by the University of Hawaii and its community college system from collective bargaining until they petition the Hawaii Labor Relations Board and the Board determines the graduate assistants are ready to be placed in a bargaining unit, at which point a collective bargaining unit for the graduate students will be established.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2720, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2720, H.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair