Aloha Chamber Members,
At just over the halfway point in the legislative session, the Chamber has been tracking hundreds of bills and testified in committee on over 50 bills. Our #4HI legislative priorities that we released back in January have been moving through the process smoothly, crossed over to the other chamber and heard in committee last week. Below is a breakdown of the Chamber’s #4HI priority bills that we are tracking:
- SB 2805: Relating to Small Business Loans:
- Summary: Establishes the Hawaii start-up business loan program and revolving fund. Requires DBEDT to submit an annual report to the legislature regarding the program. Appropriates funds.
- Status: Crossed over to the House. Passed through ECD Committee. Passed second reading and referred to FIN committee.
- SB 2806: Relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation:
- Summary: Appropriates funds to HTDC for the Small Business Innovation Research Program.
- Status: Crossed over to the House. Passed through HET committee. Passed second reading and referred to FIN committee.
- SB 2807: Relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation:
- Summary: Appropriates funds to HTDC for the Manufacturing Assistance Program.
- Status: Crossed over to the House. Passed through HET committee. Passed second reading and referred to FIN committee.
- SB 2808: Relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation:
- Summary: Appropriates funds to HTDC for the state small business credit initiative program.
- Status: Crossed over to the House. Passed through ECD committee. Waiting to be second read and referred to FIN committee.
- HB 2225: Relating to Hawaii Technology Development Corporation:
- Summary: Appropriates funds to HTDC for its grant programs.
- Status: Crossed over to the Senate. Passed through EET committee. Passed second reading. Referred to WAM committee.
- HB 1561: Relating to Education:
- Summary: Establishes within DOE a workforce readiness program to provide opportunities for students to earn associate degrees, workforce development diplomas, pre-apprenticeship certificates,and other industry-recognized certificates. Requires the department to designate schools, including adult community schools, to participate in the program. Appropriates funds for the workforce readiness program and two full-time equivalent adult workforce readiness program coordinator positions.
- Status: Crossed over to the Senate. Passed through EDU committee. Waiting to be second read and referred to WAM committee.
- SB 2711: Relating to Education:
- Summary: Specifies additional exceptions under child labor laws to include certain work-based learning programs. Defines youth vocational training program or internship. Allows employment in youth vocational training programs or internships under chapter 390, Hawaii Revised Statutes
- Status: Crossed over to the House. Passed first reading and referred to LAT and CPC committee. Waiting to be heard in those committees.
Two bills that we have been tracking very closely are minimum wage bills SB2018 and HB2510. HB2510 was heard in the Senate committee on Labor, Culture, and the Arts (LCA) on Monday and was amended. Prior to the hearing, the HD2 version had a minimum wage breakdown of $13 by January 1st, 2023; with a $1 increase every year until reaching $18 by 2028. The bill also made the state earned income tax credit refundable and permanent, and increased the tip credit over the same period. After Monday’s Senate committee hearing, the bill was amended to change the minimum wage schedule, remove making the earned income tax credit refundable and permanent, and eliminate the tip credit by 2026. The amended minimum wage schedule for HB2510 is now $12 by October 1st, 2022, $15 by January 1st, 2024 and $18 by January 1st, 2026. Essentially, the Senate LCA Committee took the language from the original Senate version and inserted it into the House version. The House Labor committee has yet to schedule a hearing on SB2018. Due to the differences, the bill will likely go to conference.
If you have any questions regarding legislation we are tracking or want to get involved in the legislative process by submitting testimony on your or your company's’ behalf, please reach out to AVP of Business Advocacy & Development, Trevor Abarzua, tabarzua@cochawaii.org
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Laulima & mahalo,
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Special guest, Anne Perreira-Eustaquio, Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, will provide an overview of the Unemployment Insurance Compensation Trust Fund post COVID-19 and an explanation of measures included in the Governor’s package to address financing issues related to the integrity of the fund.
The webinar will take place on Friday, April 1st 2022 from 9:00am – 10:00am HST.
Please register with the link below. If you have any questions, please email us.
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Elisia Flores joins the Voice of Business podcast to share what it is like being a female CEO and Vice Chair of Hawaii's favorite plate lunch restaurant and the daughter of L&L founder and entrepreneur, Eddie Flores. As a second-generation business owner, even Elisia was tempted to not return to Hawaii and contribute to the "brain drain" after moving to the mainland for college and to begin her career. Ultimately, family and food brought her home and she is excited to lead the business into the next chapter with new menus, apps and locations.
Mahalo to our podcast sponsor! |
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The Hawaii Defense Alliance continues its webinar series supporting the local business community in working with the DoD. This month's webinar was ”How To” attend conferences, such as AFCEAs TechNet Indo-Pacific conference April 11-13 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. TechNet is the largest conference of its kind in the Indo-Pacific Rim; TechNet Indo-Pacific features speakers and discussions about the area’s challenges and how industry and government can collaborate.
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SHAPING OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE
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Careers in Intelligence and Information Technology (IT) are on the rise in Hawaii. On March 21st, the Chamber, in partnership with the University of Hawaii, welcomed high school students across Hawaii to participate in the Careers in Intelligence High School Virtual Career Fair. Over 200 students met, spoke with, and learned about intelligence and IT careers from various industry partners. Participating high schools included Aiea, James Campbell, Kapolei, Kauai, Kealakehe, Leilehua, Maui, Pearl City, Roosevelt and Waipahu.
Key IT employers including Datahouse, Defense Intelligence Agency, FBI, Hawaii Air National Guard, National Security Agency, Huntington Ingalls Industries, KPMG and U.S. Coast Guard presented to the students and provided a glimpse into what a career in intelligence and IT could be. This virtual career fair opened doors to new career paths and industries, and provided students with valuable, real-life information. Thank you to UH for orchestrating this opportunity with the Chamber and for helping to build a strong future workforce for Hawaii! We hope that the participating schools enjoyed their time with our partners and we thank our partners for continuing to expose our students to new careers paths. If you’d like to learn more about getting involved with work-based learning, please send us an email.
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