Bill > SB447

This bill establishes a Hiring Pilot Program within Hawaii's Department of Health (DOH) to address severe staffing shortages in the state's public health workforce. The program provides several hiring flexibilities: for delegated position classifications, DOH can forward applications without initially verifying minimum qualifications; for positions at salary range SR-10 or below, the department can treat minimum qualifications as desired qualifications and allow certain community college program credentials to substitute for experience; DOH can directly hire individuals into civil service positions if more than five vacancies exist in a specific classification; and the director of health can make temporary appointments outside the standard list at the civil service pay scale without step limitations. The pilot program will be available for recruitments initiated before July 1, 2028, and requires the DOH to submit annual reports to the legislature detailing findings and recommendations. The bill acknowledges significant workforce challenges, including workers relocating due to high living costs and an aging population, and aims to help DOH more quickly address public health issues related to climate change, global travel, population aging, and mental health concerns. The program will take effect on July 1, 2025, and automatically sunset on July 1, 2028.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=447&year=2025