THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	137
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THAT THE COMPTROLLER CONVENE A HEALTHY WORKPLACE WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSFORM STATE FACILITIES INTO GREEN FACILITIES AND MAXIMIZE HEALTH, IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY, AND REDUCE FACILITY COSTS.

 

 

        WHEREAS, individuals who work in state facilities provide a variety of crucial services to the people of Hawaii, and members of the public frequently visit state facilities to seek public services; and

 

        WHEREAS, the current design of state facilities is often outdated; does not consider quality of user experience; can negatively impact worker health and productivity; and is typically not capable of addressing airflow, social distancing, and other issues raised by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and

 

        WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic illuminates the importance of health and safety in workplace environments, and the United States Senate recognized this importance and, in March 2021, introduced bipartisan legislation called the Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Act to create a tax incentive that offsets the costs of implementing key strategies for creating healthy and safe work environments; and

 

        WHEREAS, a joint study conducted by Harvard University, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, and Syracuse University linked green office environments with higher cognitive function scores and increased productivity, finding that people who work in well-ventilated offices with below-average levels of indoor pollutants and carbon dioxide have significantly higher cognitive function scores in crucial areas, such as responding to a crisis or developing a strategy, than those who work in offices with typical levels; and

 

        WHEREAS, studies by Carnegie Mellon; American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Journal; and World Greenbuilding Council have found that worker productivity in learning performance, reading speed, multiplication speed, and word memory increased from eight to twenty percent from improved air quality and daylight, and up to sixty-six percent from controlled interior temperatures and noise reduction; and

 

        WHEREAS, an analysis in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health regarding the economic, environmental, and health implications of enhanced ventilation of office buildings found that increased ventilation from twenty cubic feet per minute (cfm) per person to forty cfm per person corresponds to a $6,500 economic gain in a typical office worker's productivity per year; and

 

        WHEREAS, the findings of these studies and analysis are consistent with years of prior research, demonstrating that improved indoor environmental quality, lighting, and environment are associated with better health and productivity outcomes for those who work in these improved environments; and

 

        WHEREAS, with the State employing nearly forty-eight thousand civil workers, according to a 2018 Department of Human Resources Development Workforce Demographic Data report, improving health and wellness could result in $300,000,000 in additional value and savings to the public annually; and

 

        WHEREAS, improving the health and productivity of state workers and visitors by transforming state facilities into green facilities is in the best interest of the State; now, therefore,

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the Comptroller is requested to convene a Healthy Workplace Working Group to review and recommend improvements to transform state facilities into green facilities, maximize the health and productivity of the individuals that work and visit these facilities, and reduce facility costs; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Healthy Workplace Working Group consist of the following members or their designees:

 

        (1)   The Comptroller, who shall serve as chairperson of the Working Group;

 

        (2)   Two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

        (3)   Two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

 

        (4)   The President of the Hawaii Chapter of the United States Green Building Council;

 

        (5)   The President of the Hawaii Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers; and

 

        (6)   The President of the Honolulu Chapter of the American Institute of Architects; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Healthy Workplace Working Group consist of two additional members with technical knowledge of green workplace environments with credentials or membership in one of the following nationally recognized health and wellness professional organizations:

 

        (1)   LEED Accredited Professional with Specialty under the U.S. Green Building Council;

 

        (2)   WELL Accredited Professional under the International Well Building Institute; or

 

        (3)   Acceptable Indoor Air Quality Committee member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers 62.1 Standards on Ventilation; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Healthy Workplace Working Group may invite other interested parties to participate in the working group as appropriate; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Healthy Workplace Working Group shall serve without compensation; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Healthy Workplace Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2021; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Comptroller.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:  

Comptroller; Healthy Workplace Working Group; State Facilities; Green Facilities