Bill > SB183

This bill modifies the rules governing negotiations and dispute resolution for the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF), which manages health and life insurance benefits for state and county employees. Currently, disputes about the amounts of state and county contributions to the EUTF were prohibited from being resolved through arbitration, and employees were barred from striking over contribution amounts. The bill removes these restrictions, allowing arbitration panels to make final and binding decisions about contribution levels and eliminating the prohibition on strikes related to EUTF contributions. Specifically, the bill amends two sections of Hawaii Revised Statutes (Sections 89-9 and 89-11) to enable arbitration of contribution disputes and remove language that previously limited employees' negotiation and labor action options. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2050, providing a long-term framework for more flexible negotiations about employee health benefits funding. By allowing arbitration and potentially strike actions, the bill gives employees and their unions more leverage in negotiating state and county contributions to their health benefits trust fund.

Budget and Finance, Justice, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=183&year=2025