Bill > HB167

This bill addresses temporary hazard pay for state and county employees by creating a new provision in Hawaii's legal code that allows departments to grant pay differentials to employees exposed to unusually hazardous working conditions, particularly in response to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the bill allows department directors to recommend pay increases of up to 25% above an employee's minimum salary range for temporary hazardous work, with the condition that the hazard has not already been factored into the employee's base salary classification. These hazard pay differentials would be limited to six-month periods, with the possibility of renewal, and are subject to fiscal officers certifying available funding. The legislation aims to provide equitable compensation for public employees who face temporary workplace risks, addressing a gap that previously existed where some workers were not covered by collective bargaining agreements that included hazard pay provisions. The bill was motivated by the experiences of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those in educational roles who continued working during high-risk periods without additional compensation, and seeks to restore a mechanism for hazard pay that was previously repealed in 2000.

Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=167&year=2026