HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1657
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Public Employment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §][Underlined: 76- ] [Underlined: Recruitment; hiring; state departments, divisions, and agencies][Underlined: ; rules.] [Underlined: (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a][Underlined: ny state department, division, or agency may ][Underlined: elect to assume the hiring and recruitment functions from the director of human resources development for vacant positions within that department, division, or agency][Underlined: . The functions shall includ][Underlined: e but not ][Underlined: be limited to:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Composing position descriptions;]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Accepting][Underlined: applicants for ][Underlined: the ][Underlined: vacant positions;]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: Completing minimum qualification reviews][Underlined: of applicants][Underlined: ;]
[Underlined: (4)] [Underlined: Conducting interviews; and]
[Underlined: (5)] [Underlined: Directly hiring applicants who meet the minimum qualifications of ][Underlined: the][Underlined: position.]
[Underlined: (b) ][Underlined: Any state department, division, or agency ][Underlined: that elects to assume the hiring and recruitment functions for a vacancy pursuant to subsection (a) shall:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Provide written notice of its election to the department of human resources development; and]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Perform all ][Underlined: recruitment and hiring activities in a manner consistent with the provisions of this chapter and in compliance with any policies, standards, and procedures issued by the director of human resources development.]
[Underlined: (c) The election of a state department, division, or agency to assume the hiring and recruitment functions for a vacancy ][Underlined: pursuant to this section shall:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Apply to recruitment and hiring activities initiated after June 30, ; and]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Be effective until the state department, division, or agency provides written notice to the department of human resources development][Underlined: of its decision to cancel its election.]
[Underlined: (d) The department of human resources development][Underlined: shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 necessary to implement this section.]"
SECTION 2. Section 26-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
"(a) The department of human resources development shall be headed by a single executive to be known as the director of human resources development. The director shall:
(1) Facilitate and expedite the hiring and recruitment for civil service positions under the jurisdiction of the department of human resources development; [Underlined: provided that a][Underlined: ny state department, division, or agency may ][Underlined: elect to assume the hiring and recruitment functions from the director of human resources development for vacant positions within that department, division, or agency][Underlined: ][Underlined: pursuant to section 76- ;] and
(2) Have the authority to reclassify and abolish vacant positions within state departments and agencies that are under the jurisdiction of the department of human resources development, subject to the following conditions:
(A) Prior to reclassifying or abolishing any vacant position as provided under this paragraph, the director shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to each regular session. The report shall include a list of vacant positions for reclassification or abolishment, identify the agency each position is attached to, provide reasons for reclassifying or abolishing the position, and state the duration that the position has been vacant; and
(B) The director may reclassify or abolish any vacant position as provided under this paragraph no earlier than sixty days after the report has been submitted to the legislature as provided under subparagraph (A).
(b) The department shall administer the state human resources program, including human resources development and training, and central human resources services such as recruitment, examination, classification, pay administration, and payment of any claims as required under chapter 386[[Struck through: .]][Underlined: ; provided that ][Underlined: a][Underlined: ny state department, division, or agency may ][Underlined: elect to assume the ][Underlined: recruitment functions from the department of human resources development for vacant positions within that department, division, or agency][Underlined: .]"[Underlined: ]
SECTION 3. Section 76-22.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
["[Struck through: [§76-22.6]][Struck through: Recruitment; minimum qualification review; state departments, divisions, and agencies. ][Struck through: (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a state department, division, or agency, rather than the department of human resources development, may conduct a minimum qualification review of applicants for vacant positions within that department, division, or agency.]
[Struck through: (b) A state department, division, or agency that elects to conduct its own minimum qualification review of applicants for a vacancy pursuant to subsection (a) shall notify the department of human resources development, which shall provide to the department, division, or agency:]
[Struck through: (1)] [Struck through: For positions with a recruitment closing date, the applications received for the vacancy received by the closing date for that vacancy; or]
[Struck through: (2)] [Struck through: For continuous recruitment positions, ][Struck through: the applications received for the vacancy that have been received by a certain date, as determined by the state department, division, or agency; provided that the department of human resources development shall continue to transmit applications for that position on a reasonable rolling basis until the particular vacancy is filled;]
[Struck through: provided further that the department of human resources development shall submit the applications received for a vacancy immediately to a state department, division, or agency if requested by the applicable state department, division, or agency.]
[Struck through: (c) Upon completing the minimum qualification review of applicants for a vacancy, the state department, division, or agency shall submit to the department of human resources development the applications for individuals who have met the minimum qualifications for the vacancy; provided that the state department, division, or agency may immediately begin interviewing applicants that have been determined to meet the minimum qualifications for the vacant position. The department of human resources development shall complete any other tasks necessary to facilitate the hiring of the applicants, including auditing and correcting any errors found in the minimum qualification review, as applicable; provided further that if any errors are found, the department of human resources development shall have five working days to correct the error and notify the state department, division, or agency.]"]
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DHRD; Civil Service Positions; State Departments, Divisions, and Agencies; Recruitment and Hiring; Rules
Description:
Authorizes state departments, divisions, and agencies to elect to assume hiring and recruitment functions from the Department of Human Resources Development for vacant civil service positions within that department, division, or agency under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to adopt rules. Repeals existing law authorizing state departments, divisions, and agencies to conduct minimum qualification review of applicants for their vacant civil service positions.
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