NO. 34^*7
STAND. COM. REP.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 3 2024
RE: S.R. No. 158
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred
S.R. No. 158 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO CONDUCT A SAMPLE SURVEY OF
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE WITHIN THE FOR-PROFIT, NONPROFIT,
AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED
REMOTE WORK, HYBRID WORK, OR TELEWORK ARRANGEMENTS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:
(1) The Department of Human Resources Development to conduct
a sample survey of organizations in the State within the
for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors that have
successfully implemented remote work, hybrid work, or
telework arrangements;
(2) The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization
(UHERO) to identify areas of the State that have a
combination of lower housing costs and decreased access
to high-paying jobs;
(3) The Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to
analyze the condition of the existing broadband
infrastructure in areas of the State that have a
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
combination of lower housing costs and decreased access
to high paying j obs; and
(4) The Department of Human Resources Development to report
to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Holomua Collaborative; HPM Building Supply; Hawaiian Host
Group; Hawai‘i Community Foundation; Title Guaranty of Hawaii, LLC;
Mana Up; and one individual.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the
Department of Human Resources Development and University of Hawai‘i
System.
Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic led to much of the State working remotely
full-time, and that even after the COVID-19 pandemic,
telecommuting and remote services have remained popular, which has
led to renewed interest in strategies to create more sustainable
communities through remote work, hybrid work, or telework
arrangements. Your Committee further finds that identifying state
jobs that are viable prospects for remote work and areas of the
State where housing is affordable but high-paying jobs are not
readily available, and pairing the identified remote job prospects
with the State's local workforce would meaningfully address the
State's lack of affordable housing in certain areas, help keep
local families in the State, and strengthen community ties. This
measure's sample survey will provide valuable insights and best
practices towards implementing remote work, hybrid work, or
telework arrangements throughout the State.
Your Committee notes the concerns raised in the testimony of
the University of Hawaii System that due to UHERO's reliance on
donations and contracts for roughly one-half of its budget, taking
on new unfunded projects would place UHERO's existing research and
projects at risk. The University of Hawaii System further stated
that notwithstanding, UHERO is willing to conduct the research
requested in this measure and could be most helpful by serving in
a consultative role to the Department of Human Resources
Development. Therefore, there is a need to amend this measure to
address this matter.
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
P9.g© 3
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language to clarify that the Department of
Human Resources Development is requested to collaborate
with UHERO to identify areas of the State that have a
combination of lower housing costs and decreased access
to high-paying jobs, rather than requesting UHERO to
perform the task itself; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity and consistency.
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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R.
No. 158, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the
form attached hereto as S.R. No. 158, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Labor and
Technology,
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Labor and Technology
LBT
Bill / Resolution No.;* Committee Referral: Date:
MI6& L&T
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:________________________________________________
The Recommendation is:
Pass, unamended Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
AQUINO, Henry J.C. (C)
MORIWAKI, Sharon Y. (VC)
IHARA. Jr.. Les
LEE. Chris
FEVELLA. Kurt
TOTAL
Recomme ndation:
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s'or signee’s Signature:
Distribution* Original Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 12/27/23