THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	133
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the Department of Human Resources Development to reexamine the qualifications for State positions that are currently vacant and replace the qualification of a bachelor's degree with an associate degree or certificate, where applicable

 

 

        WHEREAS, the State government has over 27,700 positions that are currently vacant; and

 

        WHEREAS, the Department of Human Resources Development has not conducted a review of these positions to verify whether their job qualifications are current; and

 

        WHEREAS, the job qualifications listed for some of these positions include a bachelor's degree, which may not be relevant to or necessary for the performance of the duties of the positions; and

 

        WHEREAS, there are apprenticeship programs that prepare participants to enter and advance in the field of general office administration within State government, such as the Office Administrative Assistant Apprenticeship program established by the University of Hawaii Honolulu Community College in partnership with the Department of Human Resources Development and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and

 

        WHEREAS, these apprenticeship programs:

 

        (1)   Provide participants with technical and non-technical skills that are appropriate for today's workplace and on-the-job learning to develop the skills and proficiencies necessary for the relevant occupation; and

 

        (2)   Evaluate the individual apprentice's skills acquisitions through a combination of a specified number of hours of on-the-job learning and the successful demonstration of competency, as described in the work process schedule; and

 

        WHEREAS, upon satisfactory completion of the apprenticeship programs, the participants may apply the work process and related instruction hours to an associate degree or receive a "Certification of Completion"; and

 

        WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the State to fill these vacant positions with qualified individuals, as doing so will:

 

        (1)   Have a direct positive impact on the availability and quality of customer service provided to the public through State agencies; and

 

        (2)   Provide the people of Hawaii access to stable careers with steady income, which is also in the State's best interest; now, therefore,

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the Department of Human Resources Development is urged to reexamine the qualifications for state positions that are currently vacant and replace the requirement of a bachelor's degree with an associate degree or certificate, where applicable; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Resources Development is requested to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2022, with details on the state positions of which job qualifications were amended; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of Human Resources Development.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:  

DHRD; State Position Vacancies; Qualifications; Office Administrative Assistant Apprenticeship Program