Bill > HB1059

This bill modifies the Hawaii Revised Statutes to convert Emergency Management Specialist series positions at level V and higher within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency from civil service status to exempt status. The legislative findings indicate that there is a continuing shortage of qualified emergency management staff, and exempting these key positions from standard civil service rules will create a more responsive and flexible hiring system that can more quickly recruit and retain experienced professionals. Specifically, the bill amends Section 76-16(b) to add these positions to the list of roles that are exempt from standard civil service requirements. The change will be effective on July 1, 3000, and will automatically be repealed on July 1, 2027, at which point these positions will revert to being subject to standard civil service rules. The bill aims to address workforce challenges by providing the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency with more agile hiring practices for critical emergency management roles.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Labor and Employment, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1059&year=2026