STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2420

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2991

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 Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2991 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT CREATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to establish criteria for the creation of new bargaining units and for the Board to apply those criteria in approving or denying any new bargaining units before submission to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board.

Your Committee finds that the legislature currently holds exclusive authority to determine the standards and criteria, and to statutorily designate new bargaining units through legislation. Your Committee also finds that existing law does not set forth specific, clear procedures and criteria in creating a new bargaining unit. This measure requires the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to establish criteria for creating new bargaining units, accept and review applications for the creation of new bargaining units by applying the criteria, and upon the Board's approval of an application, submit a report and proposed legislation to the Legislature for consideration and enactment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that any employee, employer, or exclusive representative may submit an application to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board proposing to establish a new bargaining unit;

(2) Specifying the minimum criteria the Hawaii Labor Relations Board must consider in determining the appropriateness of a new bargaining unit;

(3) Clarifying that the proposed legislation the Hawaii Labor Relations Board is required to submit to the Legislature shall be accompanied by a Decision and Order issued by the Board;

(4) Inserting a blank appropriation amount to be expended for the purposes of this measure, including the establishment of an unspecified number of full-time equivalent staff positions; and

(5) 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 Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2991, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2991, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor and Technology,

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HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair