STAND. COM. REP. NO. 500

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1888

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1888 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII LABOR RELATIONS BOARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the term of the members of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) from six to ten years.

This measure also adjusts the salary of the chairperson of the HLRB to be at least equal to that of the deputy director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the salary of the other HLRB members to be equal to ninety-five percent of the chairperson's salary.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the United Public Workers. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that HLRB members serve the valuable function of adjudicating cases arising under the State's collective bargaining laws. Service on the HLRB requires individuals to have specialized knowledge and expertise in the area of employee relations. Your Committee further finds that the State is better served by having the members of this type of body serve an extended term of ten rather than six years. Additionally, your Committees determine that it is necessary to provide for the adequate compensation of the individuals serving on the HLRB at a level commensurate with their responsibilities, experience, and performance in order to attract qualified individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1888 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Chair