STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3214

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2399

H.D. 1

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 Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt an additional administrative assistant position in the Hawaii State Public Library System from civil service.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Public Library System.

Your Committee finds that Act 88, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, established a new administrative assistant position within the Hawaii State Public Library System. The position was intended to be permanently exempt from civil service, but the corresponding statutory amendment was not included. As part of their duties and responsibilities, the administrative assistant position oversees and manages all public library facilities-related issues statewide, necessitating an exempt status due to certain qualifications and experience needed to effectively carry out the role statewide. While the Department of Accounting and General Services provides substantial support in repairing and maintaining library facilities due to the Department's staffing shortages, a dedicated position within the Hawaii State Public Library System, as proposed in this measure will promote efficiency within the Library System to prioritize and ensure the needs of all public library facilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair