HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2472

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the wage standards division of the department of labor and industrial relations had a backlog of four hundred twenty complaints as of October 9, 2015.  Two hundred eleven of those complaints are prevailing wage claims against fifty-eight employers on one hundred fifty projects, which amounts to one hundred fifty pending prevailing wage investigations conducted pursuant to chapter 104, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  The wage standards division receives an average of fifty-six prevailing wage complaints per year.  Over the last ten years, however, the wage standards division finished, on average, thirty-five prevailing wage complaints each year.  Unless the division receives more staff and resources, the division will not be able to reduce its backlog of wage complaints.

     The legislature further finds that the division requires additional staffing to perform the statutory responsibilities relating to wages.  Reestablishing three labor law enforcement specialist IV positions and two labor law enforcement specialist III positions within the department of labor and industrial relations will restore the State's ability to effectively enforce Hawaii's wage laws, including laws regarding wages on public works that use taxpayer funds.

     The purpose of this Act is to ensure that Hawaii employees’ wages are protected and paid in accordance with the law by reestablishing and funding five positions in the wage standards division that were lost in the reduction-in-force from 2009.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $249,864 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the establishment of three permanent, full-time equivalent labor law enforcement specialist IV positions and two permanent, full-time equivalent labor law enforcement specialist III positions, subject to chapters 76 and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and for other current expenses related to these positions.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

BY REQUEST


 


 

Report Title:

Wage Standards Division; Positions; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for five additional labor law enforcement specialist positions in the department of labor and industrial relations to protect Hawaii employees’ wages and enforce Hawaii's labor laws, including wage and hour laws on public works construction projects.  Effective July 1, 2016.

 

 

 

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