STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3774

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2720

H.D. 3

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2720, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Pride at Work - Hawaii, United Public Workers, Hawaii State Teachers Association, National Education Association, University of Hawaii at Manoa Graduate Student Organization, Academic Labor United, University of Hawaii Student Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawaii Labor Caucus, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

Your Committee finds that providing collective bargaining rights to graduate student assistants will help to increase employment benefits, encourage qualified individuals to seek employment in those positions, and promote equity among university teaching positions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2720, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair