STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1558

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 810

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 810, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow public sector collective bargaining parties to use arbitration to resolve impasses related to contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and the Office of Collective Bargaining.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

 

     Your Committee finds that binding arbitration is a method of resolving disputes between parties that has proven successful and cost effective.  Currently, parties that engage in collective bargaining regarding public employees can negotiate over a broad variety of topics relating to employment.  However, the Hawaii Revised Statutes relating to public sector collective bargaining prohibit the use of arbitration to resolve collective bargaining impasses over the amount of state and county contributions into the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.  Allowing contributions into the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to be included in collective bargaining arbitration proceedings gives parties the opportunity to present, review, and accept more comprehensive collective bargaining agreement offers.

 

     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. 810, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair