Posted: 5/5/2008

HGEA Legislative Status Report for the 2008 Regular Session

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The following is an update of key bills and resolutions that HGEA supported or opposed based on our legislative priorities. (See link above to download PDF version.)


COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CIVIL SERVICE

H.B. 2272 Oppose Exempts positions and personal services contracts with a qualified community rehabilitation program, which last for no more than one year, from county civil service law not to exceed $850,000; relates to civil service law. Conference committee agreed to an amended bill on 4/24/08. Passed final reading in Senate and House on 4/29/08.

H.B. 2710 Support - Allows a county to hire retired state or county government employees to fill labor shortage or difficult to recruit positions, without restriction as to length of employment or number of hours worked per week. Requires a one-year waiting period before rehiring and employers to continue to make retirement contributions. Prohibits re-employment agreements prior to retirement. Sunsets on June 30, 2013. House conferees agreed with Senate amendments on 4/21/08. Senate receives notice of House action reconsidering prior action of disagreeing with Senate amendments. Passed final reading in House on 5/1/08.

S.C.R. 102 Support - Requests that Dept. of Public Safety increase the salaries and improve the benefits provided to Deputy Sheriffs. Resolution adopted by House on 4/21/08 and transmitted back to Senate. Certified copies of resolution sent on 4/23/08.

S.C.R. 222 Support - Requests state departments to convert exempt employees to civil service in accordance with Act 253, SLH 2000, and Act 300, SLH 2006. Resolution adopted by House on 4/21/08 and transmitted back to Senate. Certified copies of resolution sent on 4/23/08.


WORKERS' RIGHTS - SAFETY

H.B. 1745 Support - Establishes job security requirements to protect employees when the business for which the employees work is sold or transferred to another employing entity; Adds definition of "divestiture"; Creates worker retention trust fund to receive moneys from penalties and to be used to compensate dislocated workers; relates to employment. Carryover bill from 2007 session. No meetings conference committee meetings scheduled. Bill does not pass. Priority bill for Hawaii State AFL-CIO.

H.B. 2388 Support - Requires the employer to continue medical services to an injured employee despite disputes over whether treatment should be continued, until the director of labor and industrial relations decides whether treatment should be continued. Creates a working group to recommend if treatment is continued during dispute, effective 7/1/2009. Working group effective upon approval. Passed final reading in House and Senate on 4/29/08.

H.B. 2929 Support Requires independent medical examinations and permanent impairment rating examinations to be performed by mutually agreed upon physicians, effective 07/01/2008 and sunsets on 7/01/2011. House conferees agreed to Senate amendments on 4/24/08. House agrees to Senate amendments on 4/29/08. Transmitted to Governor on 4/30/08.

H.B. 2974 Support - Certifies entities as exclusive representatives absent an election where no other representatives are certified as the exclusive representatives. Requires immediate collective bargaining between parties once entities are certified as exclusive representatives; relates to labor unions. Bill transmitted to Governor on 3/27/08 and vetoed on 4/14/08. Priority bill for Hawaii State AFL-CIO.

H.C.R. 230 Support Recognizes the week of September 1- 7, 2008, as Hawaii Labor History Week in conjunction with the annual Labor Day holiday and activities. Encourages the development of ways to celebrate and honor the work of labor groups and the progress they have brought about for working people. Also encourages teachers across the state to provide labor education learning experiences for students appropriate to their grade level and consistent with state educational history and social science content standards. JDL passed resolution unamended on 4/25/08. Reported from JDL on 4/29/08. One day notice 5/1/08. Senate adopts resolution and transmits back to House on 5/1/08.

S.B. 2396 Support - Requires the department of health to submit an annual report on forensic patients; allows the director of health and persons subject to inpatient hospitalization or conditional release to apply to the court for hearing; reduces the minimum length of hospitalization from ninety to sixty days for individuals who are recommitted after conditional release. Makes assault on a person employed at a state-operated or contracted mental health facility a class C felony. Conference committee passed bill with amendments on 4/24/08. Passed final reading in House and Senate on 4/29/08.


GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS - PRIVATIZATION

S.B. 2342 Support - Appropriates funds so that the auditor will conduct performance audits of private prisons on the mainland that house Hawaii prisoners. In conference committee scheduled to reconvene on 4/25/08. Conference committee could not reach agreement.

H.C.R. 214 Support Requests the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of PSD on contract compliance of private prisons housing Hawaii inmates. Resolution deferred by PBS on 4/22/08.


RETIREMENT/HEALTH BENEFITS

H.B. 7 Support - Directs the Governor to establish the State of Hawaii's participation in the I-SaveRx prescription drug program that will provide residents with increased access to affordable drugs through reimportation from Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. House agreed to Senate amendments and transmitted to Governor on 4/15/08. Vetoed by Governor on 5/1/08. Veto override by both Houses on 5/1/08. Bill becomes law upon its approval and is repealed on 6/30/2012.

S.B. 2262 Oppose - Extends the sunset date to July 1, 2010 for the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust pilot program established pursuant to Act 245, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, as amended. Requires the state auditor to conduct an analysis of the cost and financial impact of Act 245, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, and to report to the legislature by December 6, 2010. HGEA opposes the bill because it is available to only one bargaining unit. Bill passed House and Senate with floor amendments on 4/29/08 and final reading on 5/1/08.


SUSTAINABILITY

S.B. 2833 Support - Requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa Public Policy Center within the College of Social Sciences to review the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan and report to the Legislature. Passed final reading in House and Senate on 4/29/08.

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