STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2478

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3297

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 S.B. No. 3297 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Department of Human Resources Development to submit an annual report on vacancies, recruitment efforts, and retention policies in the State's Executive Branch.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO and Hawaii Government Employee Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services Development.

Your Committees find that the Department of Human Resources Development is currently required to report to the Legislature a list of all vacant positions for reclassification or abolishment, the reason for reclassification or abolishment, how long the positions have been vacant, and the agency these positions are attached to. Your Committees also find that the State is currently going through a labor shortage within its government offices and agencies. This measure requires the Department to provide more up to date data on these vacancies and recruitment efforts, to assist the Legislature in combating this issue.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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 S.B. No. 3297, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3297, 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