HB 2335: DHRD; Workforce Development; Internships; Internal Recruitment; Civil Service Positions; Minimum Qualifications

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§76-     Interns; eligible for internal recruitment.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an intern who has completed at least four hundred eighty hours of work experience acquired through a state-funded internship or workforce development program within a department or agency of the State shall be deemed eligible for internal recruitment within that department or agency."

     SECTION 2.  Section 76-22.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

     "(a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a state department, division, or agency, rather than the department of human resources development, may conduct a minimum qualification review of applicants for vacant positions within that department, division, or agency.  In conducting a minimum qualification review, the state department, division, or agency, may:

     (1)  Consider required minimum qualifications as desired qualifications;

     (2)  Allow certain community college development programs to be substituted for required or desired experience; and

     (3)  Allow internships with state departments, divisions, and agencies to be substituted for required or desired experience;

provided that the department of health shall specify any minimum qualification requirement or substitute in the recruitment posting."

     2.  By amending subsection (c) to read:

     "(c)  [Upon completing the minimum qualification review of applicants for a vacancy, the state department, division, or agency shall submit to the department of human resources development the applications for individuals who have met the minimum qualifications for the vacancy; provided that the] A state department, division, or agency may immediately begin interviewing applicants that [have been] the department, division, or agency has determined to meet the minimum qualifications for the vacant position.  [The department of human resources development shall complete any other tasks necessary to facilitate the hiring of the applicants, including auditing and correcting any errors found in the minimum qualification review, as applicable; provided further that if any errors are found, the department of human resources development shall have five working days to correct the error and notify the state department, division, or agency.] The director or head of the state department, division, or agency may directly hire an individual into a civil service position; provided that the individual meets the minimum qualifications for the position."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DHRD; Workforce Development; Internships; Internal Recruitment; Civil Service Positions; Minimum Qualifications

Description:

Establishes that certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs are eligible for internal recruitment.  Authorizes any state department, division, or agency to make certain determinations regarding an applicant's minimum qualifications in conducting a minimum qualification review.  Repeals the requirement that a state department, division, or agency shall submit to the Department of Human Resources Development the applications for individuals who have met the minimum qualifications for a vacant position.  Repeals the requirement that DHRD shall complete certain necessary tasks to facilitate the hiring of applications.  Authorizes the director or head of a state department, division, or agency to directly hire an individual who meets the minimum qualifications for a civil service position.  (SD2)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§76-     Interns; eligible for internal recruitment.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an intern who has completed at least four hundred eighty hours of work experience acquired through a state-funded internship or workforce development program within a department or agency of the State shall be deemed eligible for internal recruitment within that department or agency."

     SECTION 2.  Section 76-22.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

     "(a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a state department, division, or agency, rather than the department of human resources development, may conduct a minimum qualification review of applicants for vacant positions within that department, division, or agency.  In conducting a minimum qualification review, the state department, division, or agency, may:

     (1)  Consider required minimum qualifications as desired qualifications;

     (2)  Allow certain community college development programs to be substituted for required or desired experience; and

     (3)  Allow internships with state departments, divisions, and agencies to be substituted for required or desired experience;

provided that the department of health shall specify any minimum qualification requirement or substitute in the recruitment posting."

     2.  By amending subsection (c) to read:

     "(c)  [Upon completing the minimum qualification review of applicants for a vacancy, the state department, division, or agency shall submit to the department of human resources development the applications for individuals who have met the minimum qualifications for the vacancy; provided that the] A state department, division, or agency may immediately begin interviewing applicants that [have been] the department, division, or agency has determined to meet the minimum qualifications for the vacant position.  [The department of human resources development shall complete any other tasks necessary to facilitate the hiring of the applicants, including auditing and correcting any errors found in the minimum qualification review, as applicable; provided further that if any errors are found, the department of human resources development shall have five working days to correct the error and notify the state department, division, or agency.] The director or head of the state department, division, or agency may directly hire an individual into a civil service position; provided that the individual meets the minimum qualifications for the position."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2077.

Report Title:

DHRD; Workforce Development; Internships; Internal Recruitment; Civil Service Positions; Minimum Qualifications

Description:

Establishes that certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs are eligible for internal recruitment.  Authorizes any state department, division, or agency to make certain determinations regarding an applicant's minimum qualifications in conducting a minimum qualification review.  Repeals the requirement that a state department, division, or agency shall submit to the Department of Human Resources Development the applications for individuals who have met the minimum qualifications for a vacant position.  Repeals the requirement that DHRD shall complete certain necessary tasks to facilitate the hiring of applications.  Authorizes the director or head of a state department, division, or agency to directly hire an individual who meets the minimum qualifications for a civil service position.  Effective 1/1/2077.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§76-     Interns; eligible for internal recruitment.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an intern who has completed at least four hundred eighty hours of work experience acquired through a state-funded internship or workforce development program within a department or agency of the State shall be deemed eligible for internal recruitment within that department or agency."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Workforce Development; Internships; Internal Recruitment

Description:

Establishes that certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs are eligible for internal recruitment.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding to part I a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§76-     Interns; eligible for internal recruitment.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an intern who has completed at least four hundred eighty hours of work experience acquired through a state-funded internship or workforce development program within a department or agency of the State shall be deemed eligible for internal recruitment within that department or agency."

     SECTION 2.  If any portion of this Act or its application to any person, entity, or circumstance is held to be invalid for any reason, then the legislature declares that the remainder of the Act and each and every other provision thereof shall not be affected thereby.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Workforce Development; Internships; Internal Recruitment

Description:

Establishes priority consideration for full-time employment in state departments or agencies for certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs by granting them eligibility for internal recruitment.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  798-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2335

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2335, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to deem participants with a certain amount of work experience through a state-funded internship or workforce development program within a state agency as eligible for internal recruitment within that agency.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Human Resources Development.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2335, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  481-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2335

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2335 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish that certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs are eligible for internal recruitment.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Education; and Department of Human Resources Development.

     Your Committee finds that many interns who participate in state-funded workforce development programs gain valuable skills and hands‑on experience but often face barriers to transitioning into permanent state employment due to internal recruitment restrictions.  Your Committee further finds that these limitations can discourage workforce participation and reduce the State's ability to retain trained talent, especially in high‑need departments.  Your Committee believes that allowing qualifying interns to be eligible for internal recruitment will strengthen the State's workforce pipeline and support long‑term talent development across departments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing its severability clause;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2335, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2335, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,