STAND. COM. REP. NO. 339

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 785

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 785 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 the scope of collective bargaining negotiations to include benefits of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and allow parties to collective bargaining resolve impasses related to contribution disputes through binding arbitration.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

 

     Your Committee finds that health care benefits are an integral part of an employee's compensation package.  Your Committee further finds that this measure will allow the scope of collective bargaining negotiations to include health benefits and allow employers and exclusive representatives to resolve disputes over the health benefits and the amounts of contributions each party pays through binding arbitration in an effort to reform the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to make health care more affordable and flexible for employees.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2051, to encourage further discussion

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 785, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 785, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts,

 

 

 

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair