STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2443

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2187

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 Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2187 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LABOR EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Specify that the Labor Education Advisory Council shall be advisory to the President of the University of Hawaii on all activities and programs of the Center for Labor Education and Research; and

(2) Require written responses addressing the Council's advice and adoption of resolutions by the President and Chancellor of the University of Hawaii, West Oahu campus.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; University of Hawaiʻi System; Labor Education Advisory Council; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Hawaii State Teachers Association; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; Unite Here! Local 5; and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that Act 202, Session Laws of Hawaii 1976, established the Center for Labor Education and Research ("Center") to provide labor education and support labor organizations across the State. Similarly, the Labor Education and Advisory Council ("Council") was established to represent the trade union movement statewide. As the landscape of the State's labor force and resources has changed since the Center's founding, a working group was convened pursuant to House Resolution No. 142, Regular Session of 2023, to develop a community-driven vision for the Center's programs. The working group recommended amending existing law to expand the advisory capacity of the Council. As an invaluable resource to promote the State's rich labor history, your Committee further finds that additional support for the Center is needed. This measure expands the advisory capacity of the Council to promote greater community participation in labor education, research, and organization.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting language specifying that this measure is a matter of statewide concern.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2187, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2187, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair