STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3620

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2271

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2271, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Units (1) and (10) and their excluded counterparts to resolve issues related to temporary hazard pay for fiscal year 2025-2026.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Department of Health; Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawaii; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Office of Youth Services; and United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that collective bargaining negotiations concerning temporary hazard pay are ongoing and that additional appropriations are necessary to fulfill existing arbitration awards and a supplemental award that has become final. Your Committee also finds that this measure appropriates moneys to satisfy the remaining financial obligations arising from the settlement agreement for employees of the Department of Education and to provide for arbitration awards applicable to employees of the University of Hawaii and other state Executive Branch departments represented by the United Public Workers, Bargaining Units (1) and (10), pursuant to Act 29, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2271, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair