HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

127

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE HOW THE COMPENSATION OF STATE AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE COMPARES WITH THAT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN OTHER STATES AND JURISDICTIONS AND THAT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE STATE.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the cost of living in Hawaii is estimated to be 30 to 60 percent higher than the national average; and

 

     WHEREAS, the higher cost of living in Hawaii is due in large part to higher housing costs compared with other states; and

 

     WHEREAS, the prospect of earning higher wages elsewhere prompts many Hawaii residents to relocate to other states and to jobs in the private sector; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that since the state and county governments employ a significant portion of Hawaii's workforce, it would be prudent to examine how the compensation of state and county employees in the State compares with that of other states and jurisdictions when factoring in the cost of living in Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Director of Human Resources Development is requested to establish the Hawaii Government Employees Compensation Task Force (Task Force) to examine how the compensation of state and county employees in the State compares with the compensation of government employees in other states and jurisdictions when factoring in the cost of living in Hawaii; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to examine private sector compensation in Hawaii in relation to state and county employee compensation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Resources Development is requested to provide any necessary administrative, professional, technical, and clerical support to the Task Force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force comprise the following members:

 

     (1)  A member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;

 

     (2)  A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (3)  The Director of Human Resources Development or the director's designee;

 

     (4)  The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund or the chairperson's designee;

 

     (5)  The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii or the chairperson's designee;

 

     (6)  The Director of the Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu or the director's designee;

 

     (7)  The Director of the Department of Human Resources of the County of Hawaii or the director's designee;

 

     (8)  The Director of the Department of Personnel Services of the County of Maui or the director's designee;

 

     (9)  The Director of the Department of Personnel Services of the County of Kauai or the director's designee;

 

    (10)  The Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization or the executive director's designee; and

 

    (11)  The Director of Human Resources of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation or the director's designee;

 

and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Task Force are requested to select a chairperson from the members to convene the meetings, with all Task Force members to serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to include the following factors in its examination:

 

     (1)  Wages, salaries, and other employment compensation benefits provided to state and county employees in Hawaii and in other jurisdictions, including insurance and retirement benefits;

 

     (2)  Wages, salaries, and other employment compensation benefits provided to private sector employees; and

 

     (3)  The cost of living in Hawaii as compared to other comparable areas of the United States;

 

and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Director of Human Resources Development; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii; Director of the Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Department of Human Resources of the County of Hawaii; Director of the Department of Personnel Services of the County of Maui; Director of the Department of Personnel Services of the County of Kauai; Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization; and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

State Employee Compensation; Comparison with Other Jurisdictions