The proposed law amends Hawaii Revised Statutes, specifically Chapter 78, to reintroduce and authorize temporary hazard pay differentials for public employees exposed to hazardous working conditions. This change will ensure that pay differentials will be granted upon the recommendations of department heads, allowing for compensatory adjustments for employees, limited to a maximum of 25% of their minimum salary range. The duration for these differentials can be reassessed every six months, although they will terminate unless renewed.
House Bill 167 seeks to address equity issues faced by public employees in Hawaii regarding hazard pay. The bill acknowledges that many essential workers, including first responders and public school staff, continued to work under hazardous conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic without receiving appropriate hazard pay. This legislation aims to rectify the inequity resulting from the absence of specific hazard pay provisions in collective bargaining agreements for these workers. It builds on the previous understanding that hazard pay was provided under earlier statutes, which were repealed in 2000, thus limiting compensation to only those employees under specific agreements.
Notably, the introduction of this bill reflects a legislative desire to treat all public employees equitably, regardless of whether hazard pay had been previously negotiated in their contracts. There may be concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the fiscal implications of implementing these pay differentials, as they will require the certification of available funds by fiscal officers. Additionally, existing public employees who previously did not qualify for such compensations may express varying opinions, depending on their individual circumstances relating to collective agreements.