STAND. COM. REP. NO. 362

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 187

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 187 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish labor requirements for the construction of renewable energy projects with a capacity rating of ten megawatts or greater.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and Pacific Resource Partnership. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committee finds that this measure will require compliance with fair labor practices that reflect the values of the State on projects of a scale that will necessarily rely upon an ample and skilled workforce. In addition, through the use of apprentices during all periods of construction, this measure will foster the mentoring and development of a skilled, in-state workforce, while providing the workers with the opportunity to grow into well-paying careers in a burgeoning industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a reference to chapter 104, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the prevailing wage rate requirement;

(2) Clarifying that the requirement for public disclosure of the attestation or declaration is pursuant to chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(3) Changing the minimum capacity rating for a covered project to an unspecified number of megawatts;

(4) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee notes that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has requested extra staffing to accommodate tasks related to this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 187, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 187, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair