STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2938

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2494

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2494, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide unspecified employer contribution amounts for plan years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 for Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund health benefit plan premiums for the public officers and employees of collective bargaining unit 10 (institutional, health, and correctional workers) pursuant to section 89-11(g), Hawaii Revised Statutes, due to an impasse in negotiations.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that the public employers and the United Public Workers are at an impasse and an arbitration hearing has been scheduled for July 17 to 25, 2012.  Your Committee recognizes the testimony indicating that this measure may be premature.  However, if an agreement is reached on employer-union health benefits trust fund health benefit plan premium contribution amounts prior to the scheduled arbitration hearing, this measure will provide a vehicle to implement pending collective bargaining agreements for bargaining unit 10.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2494, H.D. 1, 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 Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair