STAND. COM. REP. NO. 629-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2343

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2343, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS OF WAGE PAYMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to broaden enforcement of orders of wage payment violations to allow for certified copies of orders of wage payment violations to be filed in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund Political Action Committee; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations issues orders of wage payment violation when employers are found to have violated their wage payment obligations. However, enforcement proceedings on final orders of wage payment violations must be filed in the circuit court in which the employer conducts business. This measure would allow enforcement proceedings to be brought in district court, improving the efficiency of enforcement and expediting collection efforts to get employees paid their wages.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2343, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair