HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2016

 

COMMITTEE ON LABOR & PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

Rep. Mark M. Nakashima, Chair

Rep. Jarrett Keohokalole, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Henry J.C. Aquino

Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura

Rep. Sharon E. Har

Rep. Roy M. Takumi

Rep. Linda Ichiyama

Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita

Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson

Rep. Andria P.L. Tupola

Rep. Matthew S. LoPresti

 

 

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Rep. Dee Morikawa, Chair

Rep. Bertrand Kobayashi, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Della Au Belatti

Rep. Jo Jordan

Rep. Richard P. Creagan

Rep. Marcus R. Oshiro

Rep. Mark J. Hashem

Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Friday, March 18, 2016

TIME:

10:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 309

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

SB 2077, SD1

(SSCR2763)

Status

RELATING TO SEPARATION BENEFITS.

Authorizes public employees facing position abolishment, reduction-in-force, or workforce restructuring to opt to receive either voluntary severance benefits or a special retirement benefit in lieu of exercising any reduction-in-force rights.  Effective January 7, 2059.  Sunsets on July 1, 2018.  (SD1)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 3000, SD1

(SSCR2762)

Status

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Establishes a retirement benefit incentive for public employees, otherwise eligible to retire, whose positions are subject to layoff due to the consolidation or abolition of functions, or the privatization of the functions of the position.  Effective January 7, 2059.  Sunsets on July 1, 2018.  (SD1)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 3036, SD1

(SSCR2673)

Status

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Clarifies that an employer may refuse to hire or refer, or discharge an individual for reasons relating to the ability of the individual to perform the work in question; provided that the employment policy is applied in a nondiscriminatory manner and unrelated to discriminatory practices, equal pay, criminal conviction records, or credit history.  Effective January 7, 2059.  (SD1)

 

LAB, JUD

SB 2346, SD2

(SSCR2765)

Status

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Expands the types of investment personnel that may be appointed by the ERS.  Beginning on 1/1/2018, requires ERS to make direct payments to a spouse of a system member or retirant pursuant to a Hawaii domestic relations order.  (SD2)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 2428, SD2

(SSCR2801)

Status

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

Requires public retiree contributions to the EUTF to be paid through withholdings of retirement benefit amounts from the ERS.  Beginning after January 1, 2017, requires the EUTF to authorize automatic electronic payments in lieu of withholdings.  Effective 7/1/2076.  (SD2)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 2724, SD2

(SSCR2802)

Status

RELATING TO PREVAILING WAGES.

Expands the types of projects that must comply with wage and hour requirements under chapter 104, HRS, including construction projects on public lands regardless of whether the work is paid from public funds, and projects for which public lands are used as security for financing.  Exempts certain projects from chapter 104, HRS.  Establishes requirements that apply in situations involving private lessees of public land who contract for certain projects on public land.  Appropriates funds for enforcement of chapter 104, HRS.  Effective 1/7/2059, except section 5, which takes effect 7/1/2059.  (SD2)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 2838, SD1

(SSCR2624)

Status

RELATING TO INVESTMENTS OF THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND.

Repeals certain restrictions on investments that can be made by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.  (SD1)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 2839, SD2

(SSCR2531)

Status

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND.

Amends the definition of "dependent-beneficiary" as used in chapter 87A, HRS, and make housekeeping amendments.  (SD2)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 2898, SD1

(SSCR2603)

Status

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE STATE TO COMPLY WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

Makes an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2015-2016 for the department of labor and industrial relations and the department of human services to cover short-term costs required to comply with the Affordable Care Act.  (SD1)

 

LAB/HUS, FIN

 

DECISION MAKING

 

The following measures were previously heard on Tuesday, March 15, 2016.  No public testimony on these bills will be accepted.

 

SB 3038, SD2

(SSCR2546)

Status

RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT.

Creates a temporary program, limited to counties with a population under 200,000, to provide additional benefits to unemployed workers by extending their unemployment insurance benefits.  Make an appropriation.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

LAB, FIN

SB 3081, SD1

(SSCR2798)

Status

RELATING TO LABOR.

Appropriates funds to establish, administer, and support on-the-job training for individuals who are unemployed and dislocated due to the closure of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company on Maui.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

LAB, FIN

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  Testimony should indicate:

·     Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

·     The Committee(s) to which the comments are directed;

·     The date and time of the hearing; and

·     Measure number.

 

While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

 

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER:  20 copies (including an original) to Room 310 in the State Capitol;

FAX:       For testimony less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 808-586-8544 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (for Neighbor Islander without a computer to submit testimony through the website); or

WEB:     For testimony less than 10MB in size, transmit from http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx.

 

Testimony submitted will be placed on the legislative website.  This public posting of testimony on the website should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6680 or email your request for an interpreter to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements.  Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

Selected meetings are broadcast live.  Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" website at www.capitoltv.org or call 536-2100.

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Dee Morikawa

Chair

 

________________________________________

Rep. Mark M. Nakashima

Chair