STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2430

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3362

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. 3362 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SERVICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the temporary assignment of permanent legislative staff during the interim to executive or judicial branch agencies; and

(2) Establish that while on temporary assignment, the temporarily assigned employee is still considered an employee of the Legislature and exempt from civil service.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that the Legislature convenes on a part-time schedule, remaining in session from mid-January through early May. However, during the interim period in which the Legislature is out of session, permanent legislative employees may be utilized to assist other state departments to ensure the continuity of essential state operations. Temporarily reassigning legislative employees may alleviate the workload of some understaffed state agencies. Therefore, this measure promotes efficient utilization of state resources and employees.

Your Committee notes that there may be further questions regarding the constitutionality and associated costs with this measure. Accordingly, your Committee respectfully requests that subsequent Committees to which this measure is referred consider these issues.

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 Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3362, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3362, 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,

________________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair