STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3486

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 184

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.C.R. No. 184 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO CONDUCT A SAMPLE SURVEY OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE WITHIN THE FOR-PROFIT, NONPROFIT, AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED REMOTE WORK, HYBRID WORK, OR TELEWORK ARRANGEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:

(1) The Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a sample survey of organizations in the State within the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors that have successfully implemented remote work, hybrid work, or telework arrangements;

(2) The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) to identify areas of the State that have a combination of lower housing costs and decreased access to high-paying jobs;

(3) The Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to analyze the condition of the existing broadband infrastructure in areas of the State that have a combination of lower housing costs and decreased access to high paying jobs; and

(4) The Department of Human Resources Development to report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Holomua Collaborative; HPM Building Supply; Hawaiian Host Group; Hawaiʻi Community Foundation; Title Guaranty of Hawaii, LLC; Mana Up; and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development and University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to much of the State working remotely full-time, and that even after the COVID-19 pandemic, telecommuting and remote services have remained popular, which has led to renewed interest in strategies to create more sustainable communities through remote work, hybrid work, or telework arrangements. Your Committee further finds that identifying state jobs that are viable prospects for remote work and areas of the State where housing is affordable but high-paying jobs are not readily available, and pairing the identified remote job prospects with the State's local workforce would meaningfully address the State's lack of affordable housing in certain areas, help keep local families in the State, and strengthen community ties. This measure's sample survey will provide valuable insights and best practices towards implementing remote work, hybrid work, or telework arrangements throughout the State.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised in the testimony of the University of Hawaii System that due to UHERO's reliance on donations and contracts for roughly one-half of its budget, taking on new unfunded projects would place UHERO's existing research and projects at risk. The University of Hawaii System further stated that notwithstanding, UHERO is willing to conduct the research requested in this measure and could be most helpful by serving in a consultative role to the Department of Human Resources Development. Therefore, there is a need to amend this measure to address this matter.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to clarify that the Department of Human Resources Development is requested to collaborate with UHERO to identify areas of the State that have a combination of lower housing costs and decreased access to high-paying jobs, rather than requesting UHERO to perform the task itself; 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 184, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 184, S.D. 1.

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

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HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair