By appropriating funds for salary increases and cost adjustments, SB1304 impacts how state employees, including those in the education sector and judiciary, are compensated. It mandates that the chief justice administer these adjustments, thereby centralizing authority around salary decisions for employees who are excluded from collective bargaining. The passage of this bill is anticipated to ensure budgetary provisions are in place, allowing for equitable salary adjustments and potentially improving employee satisfaction and retention within state services.
Summary
SB1304, introduced during the Thirty-Second Legislature of Hawaii, pertains to public employment cost items. The bill effectively appropriates funds to cover collective bargaining cost items for state officers and employees, specifically focusing on those within collective bargaining unit (7). The bill outlines funding allocations for fiscal years 2023-2025 and aims to ensure that all individuals under this collective bargaining unit receive necessary funding for their salary adjustments and other related costs arising from negotiated agreements.
Contention
There may be concerns regarding the adequacy of funding across various departments that are affected by the bill, especially since the appropriated amounts are specified as zero for most general and special funds for the upcoming fiscal biennium. This could raise questions about the state's ability to fulfill its obligations under collective bargaining agreements. Furthermore, the mechanism for allocating these funds, along with timelines for expenditure, could also meet scrutiny in terms of efficiency and compliance with existing budgetary constraints.