THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1065

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to hiring.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the state workforce is aging.  The pace of retirements in many departments is exceeding the State's ability to hire new personnel.  Efforts to streamline the recruiting and certification process within the department of human resources development have made progress but cannot keep pace with the current and projected increases in retirements.

     The purpose of this Act is to create a three-year direct hire pilot program to determine if the State is able to more efficiently fill vacant positions through a streamlined recruitment and certification process for specified employees.  The legislature finds that departments already direct hire exempt positions, should continue to follow the same internal procedures they currently use for filling vacant exempt positions, and should apply those procedures to the civil service vacant positions being filled through this pilot program.  The pilot program will be limited to positions where the stated minimum qualifications include a degree in higher education, in order to ease the burden on the departments of certifying if applicants are qualified, and the pilot program shall ensure there are clear and objective criteria that each department must follow.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a three-year direct hire pilot program to streamline the recruitment and hiring process of positions that require a higher education degree.  Departments seeking to fill vacancies shall have the authority to move ahead with direct hiring no later than July 1, 2019.  Notwithstanding chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and any other law to the contrary, the pilot project shall enable departments seeking to fill any vacancy where the minimum qualifications include a higher education degree to recruit, certify, and interview applicants without the services of the department of human resources development.

     (b)  A department seeking to fill a vacancy shall request a list of qualified persons from the department of human resources development and consider such applicants, but may concurrently move forward with its internal efforts to recruit applicants for such positions.  If the department of human resources development is unable to deliver a list of qualified applicants within five days of the request, the department seeking to fill a vacancy may complete recruitment and hiring without the department of human resources development's services.

     (c)  Each department that fills any vacancy pursuant to this Act shall submit a report listing the number and type of vacancies filled.  Each department that does not fill a vacancy through this direct hire pilot program shall include in its report to the department of human resources development the number and type of positions filled and why it did not use the direct hire pilot program to fill those positions.  The department of human resources development shall compile the reports and submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation regarding the pilot program, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2020, 2021, and 2022.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for administration of the pilot project pursuant to this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human resources development for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Pilot Project; State Department Vacancies; Department of Human Resources Development; Appropriation

 

Description:

Creates a pilot program to streamline the recruitment and hiring process for vacancies within state departments.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

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