House Standing Committee on Labor

Good morning. I'm calling to order the House Committee on Labor. Today is March 24, 2026, 9:30am, and we are in Conference Room 309. We do have 20 bills on the agenda today. We've got a lot to get to. Unless you have new information or really wanna drive a point, we ask that you stand on your testimony. You do have two minutes for your testimony.

We will hold up a card when you have 30 seconds left so that you may summarize, and we'll cut you off at two minutes. Thank you very much. We'll be starting with SB 3215, related to harbor safety. There is no one here to testify in person. Is there anyone else here to testify on this measure? Okay. No questions. We'll be moving on to SB 2386, related to employment earnings.

First to testify in person, Llasmin Chaine, Executive Director for the Hawaii State Commission of the Status of Women, in support.

Good morning. Llasmin Chaine for the Commission on the Status of Women. I will stand on our written testimony in support of this measure, and we thank the committee for their consideration and support. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next in person, Younghee Overly, public policy committee member for AAUW of Hawaii in support. On Zoom.

Good morning. Thank you for this opportunity to support SB 2386. I will I just wanna point out that we are also asking for you to remove exemption for businesses with 25 or less employees, like you did with HB 2367 you already passed.

And the reason being that all businesses could benefit and all employees could benefit from pay transparency. And if one of the things that we often hear is that this will add additional burden to smaller businesses. And if you, if Sandy Ma, whose family owned the Chinese restaurant, was here, she'll tell you that small businesses owners definitely know what they have in budget.

For pay, it's a matter of just posting it. And I would like to add that pay transparency is essential recruitment tool for businesses today because millennial and gen z employees expect it, and some of them will just not even apply without it. So please remove all the exemption, and thank you for your consideration.

Thank you for your testimony. Next, in person, Jean Evans, an individual in support.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Members. I'm Jean Evans. I retired after 40 years of non profits organizations here in Hawaii. And the last two, I was executive director. They had employees ranging from 16 to 22 members or employees. And I do support this bill that really helps move it along, but I do also want you to make it for everybody, not just 25 people. And it will really help. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Anyone else in person? Okay. On Zoom, Alphonso Braggs, Chair of Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, in support.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Constance Yonashiro of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. We stand on our testimony in support of this bill and suggest the amendment to remove the exemption for employers with fewer than 25 employees.

Hawaii's nondiscrimination laws found in Chapter 378 protect employees working for very small employers with one or more employees. Pay transparency is a way to even the playing fields. It benefits both employers and employees.

Employers don't have to waste time interviewing applicants that end up dropping out of the process once they learn of the salary, and applicants don't have to spend time going through the entire interview process only to have to decline the job because the salary wasn't what they expected. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Thank you. Anyone else on Zoom to testify in this measure? We also have testimony from the Society for Human Resource Management with comments. NFIB Hawaii Chapter and the Maui Chamber of Commerce in opposition. The Hawaii Women Lawyers in support.

We also have testimony from multiple individuals in support. Members, any questions? Okay. Seeing none, we'll move on. Next bill is going to be SB 3180, SD 1, relating to state employment. First to testify, Brenna Hashimoto, Director of Department of Human Resource Development. Thank you. Next up, Keith Hayashi, Superintendent, Hawaii State Department of Education, with comments.

Morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Sean Bacon speaking on behalf of the department. We stand on our written testimony offering comments and are available for any questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Next up, Jade Butay, Director of DLIR with comments. Thank you. In person, Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns for the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii in support in person. Randy Perreira, Executive Director for HGEA in opposition.

Chair, Vice Chair, Members. Nui Sabas for HGEA. We submitted comments on this measure, but I do just wanna note that we're opposed to the language in this measure that would limit, that would repeal the, that would limit the temporary employment of persons in a single position for two terms for 89 day hires. 89 day hires have no rights, benefits, or job protections. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else here to testify on this measure? Okay. We also have testimony from the Hawaii State Public Library System with comments, and UPW, United Public Workers with comments as well. Members, any questions?

And moving on to SB 3082, relating to military families. First to testify, Laurie Moore, Executive Director for the Military and Community Relations Office.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair. John Greene, Deputy Director of Military and Community Relations Office. We stand on our written testimony in support. I'm available for questions.

Thank you. Jade Butay, Director of DLIR, in support. Thank you. Kelli May Douglas, Pacific Southwest Liaison for the US Department of Defense on Zoom in support.

Good morning, Chair and Vice Chair. My name is Kelli May Douglas, and I work within the Office of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Community and Family Policy. On behalf of Hawaii military families, I'm proud to express our support for SB 3082, SD 1, HD 1.

If enacted, this measure will enable employees who are the family members of military service members to address service related family needs during critical and often stressful times. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to share our support of SB 3082.

Thank you. Is there anyone else here to testify on this measure? And we also have testimony from the Hawaii National Guard in support. And the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii State Department of Defense in support, and the Hawaii State Department of Defense in support, and one individual in support as well. Members, any questions? Okay.

Moving on to SB 31091, HD 1, relating to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Is there anyone here to testify in person or on Zoom? Moving on to SB 3110, relating to the Hawaii National Guard. Is anyone here to testify in person or on Zoom? Moving on to SB 2391, SD 2, relating to education.

First, offering testimony with comments, Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Hawaii State Department of Education in person.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Again, Sean Bacon on behalf of the department. We stand on our written testimony offering comments on this measure. Thank you.

Next up, J.N. Musto, PhD, Chief Negotiator for the Office of Collective Bargaining in opposition.

I'm here on behalf of J.N. Musto. Brenna Hashimoto from DHRD. I am available to answer any questions you may have. I'll stand on our written testimony in opposition.

Thank you. Also in opposition, Seth Colby, PhD, Director for the Department of Budget and Finance, in person. Not here. We also have Nathan Murata, Dean College of Education in the University of Hawaii System, in support.

Hi. Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of Committee. Nathan Murata, Dean, College of Education, UH Mānoa. We stand in support of our written testimony and available for comments, questions.

Also, Osa Tui Jr, President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, in support.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair. Sarah Milianta-Laffin on behalf of HSTA. So when you adjust for cost of living, Hawaii's teachers are the lowest paid teachers in the country. So this bill kind of fixes that piece because it lets teachers in the classroom like me see upwards trajectory to where we can go in the future to stay in the classroom and not necessarily have to become an administrator.

I've been teaching for 21 years and I make $55,000 a year, not enough to live on. I do wanna kinda tell people because we've heard a lot of questions from your peers that this language is not negotiated. It absolutely is and we have copies of the contract. Page 66 of our contract says that basically this has already been negotiated. It's subject to funding, and we need your body to fund the step increases. So please support. Mahalo.

Next up, Kris Coffield, Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, in support. Not here. Laverne Moore, President of Oahu HSTA Retired Teachers, in support.

Aloha, Chair, Members of the Committee. I'm here to give ... testimony. I began my teaching career in Hawaii in 1970, the same year public employees gained collective bargaining rights. I know for a fact that none of you were serving in this legislature in the 1980s.

I'm here to provide the historical context of how the HSTA lost the very thing this bill seeks to restore. When I signed my contract in 1970, I was guaranteed that with 22 years of service, I would reach the top of the salary scale. It was a clear, reliable career path that respected our dedication.

In the 1980s, a law was passed that stripped the HSTA members of our automatic step increases. I was there. I testified against that bill then, and I am here today to ask you, the legislators, to finally undo that injustice and make it pono. The outcome of that law created the crisis we have faced in Hawaii since its inception.

For decades, teachers were frozen in place. I have watched excellent educators leave the classroom for administration or leave Hawaii entirely simply because they could not survive financially here in Hawaii. I noticed the effective date on this bill is currently January 1, 2077. I have been waiting since the 1980s for this to be fixed.

I don't think our current teachers can wait another 50 years for you to restore what the legislature took away from us. By restoring automatic increments, Senate Bill 2391, SD 2 restores the professional dignity promised to teachers over 50 years ago. Thank you.

Thank you very much, ma'am. Okay. We also have testimony from the United Public Workers with comments and a long list of a number of individuals in support. Anyone else here to testify on this measure? Members, any questions?

Okay. Moving on to SB 896, HD 1, relating to education. First up is Keith Hayashi, Superintendent for the Hawaii State Department of Education with comments.

Good morning, Chair, Members of the Committee. Jesse Souki, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, testifying for the Department of Education. We rest on our testimony with comments, but I'd like to just highlight some of that for you.

The department shares with the legislature the goals of strengthening accountability and improving internal expertise to ensure timely delivery of school facilities projects. Financial data for the department CI program is maintained in our Aukahi Financial Management System, or AFMS, while project status data is maintained in our Capital Projects Tracker, or CPT.

In an effort to modernize and improve transparency in our CIP program, the department has convened a working group from its finance, IT, and facilities offices to assess and evaluate how these systems can better be aligned to strengthen consolidated reporting.

With that in mind, the department respectfully recommends that subsection b allow flexibility in reporting structure rather than prescribing each data element by statute to allow continued system modernization while maintaining transparency.

The department also respectfully requests clarification that reporting requirements apply only to department administers projects and not include attached agencies, such as the Hawaii School Facilities Authority, the State Public Charter School Commission, or the Hawaii State Public Library System, which are attached and have separate governance and reporting responsibilities.

The department can identify projects with funds encumbered for more than five years. However, clarification is recommended to ensure that projects in active planning, design, procurement, environmental view, or phased construction are not deemed inactive solely due to the time that's elapsed.

Complex school CIP can often span multiple fiscal years and appropriations before constructions begins. The design and construction phases of these CIP projects are rarely funded in a single budget cycle, nor is it preferred. Large appropriation balances in the aggregate do not mean projects have stalled or that they are not progressing. Rather, appropriation balances in the aggregate...

Thank you for your testimony. Your time is up. Next in person, Randy Perreira, Executive Director for HGEA, in opposition.

Chair, Vice Chair, Members. Nui Sabas for HGEA. We submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. We respectfully request an amendment to delete section three of this measure. We recently negotiated a salary increase for engineers and architects, and it's our understanding that has significantly helped the recruitment and retention of employees within this office.

And furthermore, section three poses pay equity concerns where there may be a situation where a new exempt employee is coming in and being compensated at a higher rate compared to the existing civil service staff, and that may impact employee morale. And that's just inherently unfair. Thank you.

Thank you. We also have Anne Horiuchi or Randall M. Wat for the Department of General, Department of the Attorney General, with comments in person.

Morning, Chair, Vice Chair, Representative Kapela. Randall Wat, Deputy Attorney General for the department. As further outlined in our written testimony, the department has comments regarding section three of the bill. The new section 302A, subsection b allows the Superintendent to fix the compensation for these positions to align.

To ensure that this addresses concerns regarding wages being a mandatory subject of bargaining under chapter 89-6 or Chapter 89 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the department has recommended amendments to this bill. We'll be available for questions. Thank you.

Are there any other persons here to testify on this measure? Members, questions? Moving on to SB 2125, HD 1, relating to teacher licensing. First in person, Mitzie Higa, licensing specialist for the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board in opposition.

Thank you. Mitzie Higa. Aloha, Chair Sayama, Chair Lee, or Vice Chair Lee, and Representative Kapela. We stand in opposition. I speak on behalf of the board of Hawaii State Teachers Association. Oh, gosh. Sorry. Here I go again. Okay. Hawaii Teachers Standards Board. Okay.

So what a lot of you or a lot of people maybe don't understand is that people who are having emergency hire permit already have a bachelor's degree. And so this, the purpose of the emergency hire permit was to give them three years in time so they could get their master's or doctorate within that time.

It's fair for our students to have licensed teachers in front of them, and a lot of the emergency hire permits sometimes they have a degree in something else, not teaching. And they're placed in elementary and special ed settings, which is worrisome.

So we want to get them up there as soon as they can to become licensed. And also, I mean, take into account that when they're licensed they get better pay according to the contract. That's what we want them to be and we want them to stay. We have been fighting for other issues to deal with the teacher shortage, such as registered apprenticeship.

And we have been fighting hard for that because that would pay their tuition through the federal grant that we got. So that that's one of the barriers to prevent educators from searching or becoming an educator is a lot of their parents will tell them don't go into education, you'll have student loan.

That's part of the barrier that we want to actually get rid of. And this bill is not the way to get rid of that barrier. The barriers we're trying to fight are really encouraging students to become teachers, to stay in the classroom, that their education will be paid for so that they will in fact stay in the classroom. And we really want teacher retention. And we also support National Board teachers for the same reason. Thank you.

Thank you. Also in support, I mean, also in person, Keith Hayashi, Superintendent for the Hawaii State Department of Education, in support.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Sean Bacon speaking on behalf of the department. We stand on our testimony in support. Really extending the emergency hire permit from three to five years keeps experienced, committed teachers in the classroom while they are working on completing their state approved teacher education program. We'll be available for any questions. Thank you.

Next, we have Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, Executive Office on Early Learning, in support.

Hi, Chair Sayama, Vice Chair Lee, Members of the Committee. I'm Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, Director of the Executive Office on Early Learning. We stand on our written testimony in support.

Next in person, Nathan Murata, Dean from College of Education, University of Hawaii System, in support. Thank you. Osa Tui Jr, President, Hawaii State Teachers Association, in support.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair. We'll stand on our written testimony, and here for questions.

Thank you. Okay. Moving to Zoom. I do have Amy Agbayani, President for The Legal Clinic in support.

Thank you very much. We strongly support this measure. It does address an important need for teacher shortages. And I would like to point out that J-1 visa holders are also emergency hires and would be covered by this to extend the duration. So we urge you to support this. I think it's an excellent bill, and it is only part of the solution, but it is an important part of the solution to teacher shortage. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next, we have Liza Ryan Gill testifying for the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights in support on Zoom.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. We're gonna stand on our written testimony in support. Mahalo.

Thank you. Next, we have The Teacher Lounge Team from The Teacher Lounge in support on Zoom. Not present. We also have testimony from Christina Sablan, policy advocate for The Legal Clinic. Veronica Mendoza from Maui Roots Reborn. And five individuals in support. I'm sorry. Is there anyone else here to testify on this measure? Okay. Members, any questions? I have a question for Mitzie.

Yes.

So the DOE said that there's only about one in three few people who are actually obtaining their license during this three-year timeframe. What is the main reason why, maybe from your perspective, on why we're not filling these positions within that timeframe? I know a master's in education will maybe take about two years. That's what I'm talking about.

We haven't got that same data at all, we haven't received that from the DOE, but what we do know is that, sometimes, maybe a university might offer a course later down the line or they don't start a program till the next year, but that's why three years instead of two, right, to make sure.

Other times, if they have a maternity issue or medical, they can ask for-- there is a process already in place that they can ask for an extension, or not an extension, but another permit. But there are already-- but we don't have that data and that's part of the problem is, we don't have a data that that many people are not getting licensed after the three-year mark.

They actually-- it actually does what it intended to do from the beginning that they do get their license prior to that, but-- and oh, DOE is also offering study which we have promoted and said, we need to have study for the J-1 visa holders that need emergency hire. They have emergency hire permits and they need a license but they have to pass a practice to make sure that they're in the right field in front of our kids and that they do-- they can educate them. That, they are doing now, so, this year.

Well, we appreciate you working together, which--

Thank you.

--you should be. What is the data that you have on it?

We actually don't have data about, like, who stays and who-- because we're not the employer. I do have data about how many attempts, like, say, J-1 visa holders have had in emergency hire permits, things like that, but not of who has become licensed and is still working. I mean, I don't know the who's working part and we don't have that data. So maybe DOE might know, but I don't recall hearing one in three ever.

Sure. That's just the number that we've been given. I appreciate it very much. Thank you.

Thank you.

Members, any other questions?

For the DOE. Hi. Yes, we can. Thank you for coming. The question I have is, can you let us all know for student teaching, is that required for licensure?

That is part of the requirement for the SATEP, is that they do do a practicum of student teaching, correct.

How long does that take?

It's typically one semester, for most people.

And would the person doing student teaching be paid?

Previously, they have not been paid. There has been a few pilot projects that we-- that have been-- I think one through UH and we've also are using some Title 2 funding right now to help bridge the gap to allow some of the individuals that are doing student teaching to receive some additional funding during that time.

So could it be a possibility that somebody might be nearing the end of their three years? And maybe you're looking at student teaching and maybe they can't afford not to be paid for a semester. Could that be a possibility?

That could be a possibility, yes.

Also, is there an issue or is there a timeline when doing student teaching that the DOE gives--meaning that you have to finish something by a certain time before you can start--would that also be an issue with meeting the three-year?

So for the student teaching, I think that would be something we'd have to talk probably with program, the university, or whatever. I'm not sure what their requirements are to finish their program requirements within a particular timeframe. That may be a question for the university, so the progress.

So if somebody finishes their program on December 15th, are they able to start student teaching on January 6th?

From the DOE's perspective, I would say-- can you repeat that question again? Sorry.

Somebody just finished their program and they're ready to do student teaching at the end of the fall semester in the middle of December. Would they be able to start student teaching the beginning of January?

To my understanding, I believe that it is a yes.

Okay. And what if they finish their program because different programs might have different requirements in February? Would they be able to start for that semester? Would they have to wait until the-- probably about eight months more or nine or six months more to start?

I believe, typically, most university programs, they either start at the beginning of the school year or the beginning of the second semester. I'm not aware of where they're starting mid-year through-- or mid-semester.

Or, no. Finishing mid-semester.

Correct.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there any other questions? 'Kay, moving on. Bill SB 2930sd2 related to the State Risk Management Revolving Fund. Keith Regan, comptroller, DAGS in support.

Chair, vice chair, members. Keith Regan, DAGS, Comptroller for the State of Hawai'i. I stand on our written testimony in support. Thank you.

Thank you. Mark Anthony Clemente, Hoyer Regional Council of Carpenters in support. Not here. And Stephen West, Division Director for the International Longshore Warehouse Union Local 142 Model Division, in support on Zoom.

Yes. Here to support. Senate bill 20, 2930. I'll stand on my, on my testimony. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

Maui Division ILW Local 142 is the largest division in ILW Local 142. We sustained over 2,300 members that were affected by this fire. I'll try to remain short, but we strongly support this bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any other persons here to testify? In person or on Zoom. 'Kay, we also have testimony from Will Kane, officer of the governor, in support.

Two from Maui County Council, in support. International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50 in support. The Maui Chamber of Commerce in support. And from one individual in support. Members, do we have any questions?

Hi. Mr. Regan for DAGS. If you can answer as best as you can. Because you're the only one here that can answer this. Do you know how these projects in the bills were selected?

I do, actually. So most of it relates to property insurance and properties that were destroyed during the wildfire event that occurred in West Maui. These are state properties that were covered by our our insurance policy.

Okay. So specifically for the King Kamehameha III's Elementary School, do you know if the, how much of the amount is, is gonna be paid towards that or if there's any residual amount to get that school built, it would have to be got, money gotten somewhere else.

So here's my understanding. We're asking for a portion. We wanna utilize a portion of the insurance proceeds that we've received or or will be receiving to cover a majority of the cost of the development of the new school and also cover the cost of the roadway improvements and the off-site utilities related to the school. There is FEMA funding that will be available and made available and will be incorporated in the overall, to support the overall cost of the project.

So we believe that with with the insurance proceeds that we've asked for to be, for that ceiling to be increased, along with the funding that we're gonna get through FEMA, that we should have sufficient funds to be able to cover the cost of that particular school being rebuilt.

Okay. In in full?

Yeah.

Okay. Thank you.

Other questions, members? Okay. Moving on to SB 2338 HD 1, relating to housing. First to testify in person, Dean Minakami, Executive Director for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, and members. Dean Minakami, Executive Director of HHFDC. We stand on our comments in support, and also we have one further amendment to address the comments by HGEA. The bill right now would restrict us from hiring employees subject to Chapter 76, and that was not our intent. So we'd like to restore that language in the bill so that we can retain our civil service employees, you know, as their civil service status. So I have updated testimony that reflects this. I'm not sure if you want me to reach you now. Thank you.

Thank you. Next in person, Hakim Ouansafi, Executive Director for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority with comments.

Morning, Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the committee. Ben Park for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. I'm gonna stand on our testimony with comments, but we're also gonna follow-up-- director made comments.

Thank you. Last to testify in person, Randy Perreira, Executive Director for HGEA, in opposition.

Chair, Vice Chair, members, Nui Sabas for HGEA. I just wanna note, this is the first time we're testifying on this measure, and this is due to the HD 1 version, which was amended that would exempt all employees within the HHFDC. We currently have civil service employees, our members that are within the HHFDC that may lose their civil service exemption, so we're opposed to that. Furthermore, as I stated in this committee, we've seen about a 25% increase in civil service employees, and there's just a few points that I do wanna make to this.

And while I'm not accusing the current advocates of this bill, we are-- our state government is creating more and more exempt employees that are within our union, which creates-- which affects our ability to advocate for our members and this is something that we consider union busting. And at-- and possibly at a point in time, there may be more exempt employees compared to civil service employees in state government and that is something that's very concerning. Thank you.

Thank you. We also have Klemen Urbanc, Deputy Attorney General, with comments on Zoom.

Not present.

Not present? In person.

Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. Deputy Attorney General, Klemen Urbanc. I'd like to highlight from our written testimony that the bill expands the categories of position of HHFDC exempt from civil service requirements of Chapter 76, that Section 76-16B sets forth positions that are exempt from civil service requirements.

And under Section 76-16B 17A, any such positions created after July 1st, 2014 by other laws are not identified in Section 76-16B expires three years after enactment unless affirmative be extended by the act of legislation. So for that reason, we recommended if the committee intends to keep these positions permanently exempt, to include them in by amending Section 76-16B HRS. And I will be available for questions. Thank you.

Are there any other persons in the room or on Zoom here to testify for this measure? Okay. We also have testimony from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors in support. Members, any questions? Okay, moving on to SB 3069 SD 1, related to civil services--

Quick question.

Oh, sorry. You have questions?

Yeah. Question for DBEDT. I'm sorry, not DBEDT. Yeah, yeah, yeah, DBEDT. HHFDC. Sir, can you elaborate on your recommended amendments that you just submitted to us?

So we have two recommended amendments. One is to remove language to the position finance manager and the second, which I mentioned earlier, is to remove rep-- right now, it's like a 21H-2B, I believe, has language in there that allows us to employ staff that are subject to Chapter 76. And the bill, the HD 1 version deleted that language. <Unintelligible>.

So we'd like to restore that we can employ staff subject to Chapter 76 because we do have a number of civil servants-- civil servant staff that are employed at HHFDC, and we do not wanna change their status.

Okay. And this, again, is to narrow the scope from the SD 1 version from all positions under your division or department?

Right. All positions would be-- yes, that's correct. So that it would-- we could still employ civil servant employees, and they'll be-- we would be exempt from chapter-- sorry. I don't have the testimony in front of me about that.

Would you like?

Yeah. Just be exempt from Chapter-- Section 26-35[a][4].

Okay. So how many positions are gonna be exempt under this proposed amendment?

All of these employees will be exempt from Chapters Section 26-35--

I know all employees, but how many positions specifically?

Exempt right now at HHFDC? I don't have that count right now, but we have roughly, I would say, about 50 employees are exempted at HHFDC. That would not change.

Thank you.