Bill > SB2069

This bill aims to allow the State and the four counties in Hawaii to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with public sector unions independently, rather than as a unified entity. It achieves this by amending various sections of Hawaii Revised Statutes, primarily Chapter 89, which governs collective bargaining in the public sector. Key changes include redefining "Employer" or "public employer" to specify that each county mayor, the governor for state employees, and other designated officials are the primary negotiators for their respective jurisdictions. The bill also clarifies that the "public employer" for bargaining units like firefighters and police officers will be the respective county mayor, and for state employees, it will be the governor, with each having sole authority to negotiate agreements for their jurisdiction. Additionally, it modifies provisions related to the scope of negotiations, allowing for supplemental agreements that apply only to their respective employees, and adjusts the process for resolving disputes and impasses, ensuring that negotiations and arbitration are conducted separately for each jurisdiction. The bill also makes technical amendments to strike language that implied joint bargaining among jurisdictions and inserts language to reflect independent bargaining.