STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1308-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2286

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2286, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNSHIPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Permit the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enter into contracts with eligible employers or registered apprenticeship programs in the private sector to provide on-the-job training to eligible interns;

(2) Subject to certain limitations, require the Department of Human Resources Development to collaborate with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for certain portions of the on-the-job-training work experience program;

(3) Provide that the State shall be the responsible employer for purposes of workers' compensation coverage when a student or recent graduate performs paid or unpaid work for a private or public employer as part of the on-the-job-training work experience program; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Education; University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Kohala Coast Resort Association; Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that providing state funds for private-sector internships is in the best interests of the State and will promote economic growth, foster public-private collaborations, and support job creation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the scope of the workers' compensation coverage for students and recent graduates; and

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

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 S.B. No. 2286, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2286, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair