SB 2198: DLIR; Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program; Study; Report; Appropriation
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-02-10
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2198 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature notes that those vying for the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title are judged against a standard of perfection, rather than against each other, allowing for multiple or no awardees. Winners of the competition are hosted by the French President at the Elysee Palace, where they are awarded a medal and state diploma. Meilleur Ouvrier de France titles are awarded for life, christening winners as custodians of their trade and tasking them with the preservation and generational sharing of their knowledge.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii also has a rich history of fine craftsmanship and is home to a wide variety of tradespersons. The legislature recognizes preserving cultural knowledge and promoting alternative career paths to diversify the economy as key priorities for the State.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of labor and industrial relations to study the establishment of a workforce excellence award program for craftspersons to demonstrate the State's dedication to preserving its significant cultural history and promote future participation in potentially dwindling trades.
SECTION 2. (a) The department of labor and industrial relations shall conduct a study, with industry input, on the establishment of a workforce excellence award program recognizing craftspersons in the State, under which nominations are collected from the public and annual awards are presented by the governor at a historically significant venue.
(b) The department of labor and industrial relations shall research, assess, and make recommendations on:
(1) A Hawaii workforce excellence award program similar to the Meilleur Ouvrier de France and how it may best be adapted to suit the State;
(2) Key industries to include in the Hawaii workforce excellence award program; and
(3) Cost-effective means of adopting the Hawaii workforce excellence award program.
(c) The department of labor and industrial relations shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to conduct a study on the establishment of a Hawaii workforce excellence award program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2077.
Report Title:
DLIR; Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program; Study; Report; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. 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.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2198 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to workforce development.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature notes that those vying for the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title are judged against a standard of perfection, rather than against each other, allowing for multiple or no awardees. Winners of the competition are hosted by the French President at the Elysee Palace, where they are awarded a medal and state diploma. Meilleur Ouvrier de France titles are awarded for life, christening winners as custodians of their trade and tasking them with the preservation and generational sharing of their knowledge.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii also has a rich history of fine craftsmanship and is home to a wide variety of tradespersons. The legislature recognizes preserving cultural knowledge and promoting alternative career paths to diversify the economy as key priorities for the State.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of labor and industrial relations to study the establishment of a workforce excellence award program for craftspersons to demonstrate the State's dedication to preserving its significant cultural history and promote future participation in potentially dwindling trades.
SECTION 2. (a) The department of labor and industrial relations shall conduct a study, with industry input, on the establishment of a workforce excellence award program recognizing craftspersons in the State, under which nominations are collected from the public and annual awards are presented by the governor at a historically significant venue.
(b) The department of labor and industrial relations shall research, assess, and make recommendations on:
(1) A Hawaii workforce excellence award program similar to the Meilleur Ouvrier de France and how it may best be adapted to suit the State;
(2) Key industries to include in the Hawaii workforce excellence award program; and
(3) Cost-effective means of adopting the Hawaii workforce excellence award program.
(c) The department of labor and industrial relations shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to conduct a study on the establishment of a Hawaii workforce excellence award program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
DLIR; Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program; Study; Report; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Feb 11, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2173) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Feb 6, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Ihara, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Feb 3, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Referred to LBT, WAM. |
| Jan 21, 2026 | Introduced and passed First Reading. |
| Jan 14, 2026 | Pending Introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Feb 6, 2026 | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Department of Labor and Industrial Relations | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2173
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2198
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2198 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawai'i Workforce Excellence Award Program.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Your Committee finds that promoting a diverse marketplace is fundamental to the State's goals of fostering workforce development and sustainable economic growth. A successfully diverse economy includes manual skills and craftwork, which are often overlooked due to social stigmas. France formulated a unique solution to this issue through the Meilleur Ouvrier de France competition, which preserves and celebrates French heritage and craftsmanship by awarding titles in dozens of crafts, including woodworking and floristry. Honoring and preserving high standards of craftsmanship, skill, and professionalism in various manual trades is a valuable initiative to meet broader economic goals, as demonstrated by the success of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France competition. This measure examines how the State may develop a similar program by requesting the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program.
Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2077, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2198, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2198, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor and Technology,
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________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 6, 2026 | SB2198_TESTIMONY_LBT_02-06-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
51SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology
26SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Technology
Bill Author
