STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1438-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.C.R. No. 138

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 138 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO STUDY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A YEAR-ROUND LEGISLATURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the implementation of a year-round Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that a year-round Legislature in Hawaii could allow for increased transparency in the legislative process as it would provide lawmakers more time to discuss and analyze the pressing issues of the State, while also giving the public more time to participate. However, your Committee notes that a year‑round Legislature would require increased staffing and resources. These costs associated with a year-long Legislature have not been studied in depth. Your Committee believes that it would be beneficial to get a better understanding of the costs associated with a year-long Legislature and the potential financial burden on taxpayers by studying states that currently operate on a year-round basis.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the scope of the study to focus on certain states with year-round legislatures to clarify the similarities and differences in legislative operations, costs, and policies regarding outside employment;

(2) Changing when the Legislative Reference Bureau's report is to be submitted to the Legislature to forty-five days, rather than twenty days, before the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 138, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 138, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Legislative Management,

____________________________

NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair