STAND. COM. REP. NO. 176

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 883

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 883 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 make a housekeeping amendment to the public sector collective bargaining law.

 

     Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee made available a proposed S.D. 1 for review and comment.  The proposed S.D. 1 amends this measure by deleting its contents and inserting language to establish a separate collective bargaining unit for first responders, including state law enforcement officers and state and county ocean safety and water safety officers.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from the Department of Public Safety; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Honolulu Emergency Services Department, City and County of Honolulu; Kauai Fire Department, County of Kauai; Ocean Safety Bureau, Kauai Fire Department; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; North Shore Lifeguard Association; Hawaiian Lifeguard Association; Outrigger Hotels Hawaii; and fifty-seven private individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that state law enforcement, ocean safety, and water safety officers are highly trained and competent emergency first responders.  State sheriffs and ocean safety and water safety officers employed by the State or counties currently belong to collective bargaining units (3) and (4) for white collar employees and white collar supervisors, respectively.  Bargaining unit (3) is the largest of all of the thirteen bargaining units in the State and comprises a broad and heterogeneous membership.  The membership size and diversity of professions included in this bargaining unit increase the complexity and ability to address the specialized needs of state sheriffs and ocean safety and water safety officers.  By establishing a separate bargaining unit for these officers, the proposed S.D. 1 will enable these officers to more easily address any specialized needs of these officers with the employer, including fitness and equipment requirements, and improve salaries, benefits, and working conditions.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1 and amending it further by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     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 S.B. No. 883, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 883, S.D. 1, 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