STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1140

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   S.B. No. 207

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 207, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYEES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote the establishment of shared leave programs for public employees by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Judiciary, Legislature, and Executive Branch to each establish a shared leave program for their employees;

 

     (2)  Removing the preclusion of leave sharing between employees of different departments or branches of government because of administrative infeasibility; and

 

     (3)  Allowing the counties to establish a shared leave program for county employees.

 

     This measure also removes the requirement that the employee's designation of beneficiary form be written, notarized and filed with the Comptroller or other disbursing officer who issues warrants or checks to pay an employee for services.  This amendment would allow beneficiary information to be maintained electronically and in a more efficient manner.

 

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO and United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO, supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Human Resources Development opposed this measure.  The Department of Accounting and General Services and an individual provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the eligibility requirements for employees to participate in a leave sharing program by:

 

     (1)  Changing the minimum time of service from no less than six months to an unspecified amount of time; and

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the employee shall not have a disciplinary record of sick leave abuse.

 

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee notes that the intent of this measure is to allow for all state employees to participate in a leave sharing program regardless of the where the employee is employed.  Should your Committee on Judiciary deliberate on this measure further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider the appropriate method of implementation.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 207, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 207, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair