STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2479

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2598

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2598 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEWORK,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Director of Human Resources Development to revise rules, policies, and guidelines to limit state employees' telework to a maximum of two days per week; and

(2) Set forth supervision and accountability standards to ensure appropriate state services to the public.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employee Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Med Quest; and ten individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resource Development, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

Your Committees find that during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, telework became a widespread and invaluable tool for state departments and agencies. Your Committees find that the State has implemented State of Hawaii Telework Program Guidelines, which all State telework programs utilize. This measure requires the Director of Human Resources Development to revise the telework guidelines adding certain restrictions unless a national or state emergency is declared, and ensures appropriate provision of services to the public.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the maximum number of days state employees may telework from two days per week to an unspecified number of days per week; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2598, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2598, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations,

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair

________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair