RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPT POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES.
Summary
HB2249 amends Hawaii law governing the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) and the state civil service system. The bill authorizes DAGS to hire exempt positions in two areas: the comptroller’s office, for staff supporting communications, change management, and business process improvement tied to information technology modernization; and the public works division’s special project branch, for staff working on unique and specialized public works projects. The bill specifies that these employees remain members of the state employees’ retirement system and remain eligible for state employee benefits, even though they are exempt from civil service chapters 76 and 89.
The measure also revises the list of civil service exemptions in section 76-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to add all positions in the public works division’s special project branch and all comptroller’s office positions supporting the modernization-related programs. In effect, it makes those exemptions part of the statutory civil service carve-outs rather than temporary or ad hoc exceptions. The bill’s stated effective date is July 1, 3000, which is a common drafting device used to avoid unintended immediate enactment while the measure is under consideration.
Impact
The bill would expand the statutory exemptions from Hawaii’s civil service protections by permanently excluding specified DAGS positions from chapters 76 and 89. That would give the department greater hiring flexibility for specialized project work and modernization support, while leaving retirement and employee benefit coverage intact. It would also amend the civil service exemption statute itself, adding these positions to the enumerated list of exempt categories and thereby affecting how future hires in the comptroller’s office and public works special project branch are classified and recruited.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill in the House, as it passed second reading as amended and advanced to Finance. The vote record indicates no one voted with reservations, though Representative Amato voted no and Representative Holt was excused. That pattern suggests the bill had enough support to move forward, but not unanimous agreement. No committee transcript is provided, so the broader discussion appears limited to the bill’s formal advancement and vote outcome.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the expansion of civil service exemptions, which can raise concerns about reducing merit-system protections, limiting competitive hiring, and creating more politically or administratively flexible positions. Opponents may view permanent exemptions as weakening civil service safeguards, while supporters likely argue the positions require specialized skills, faster hiring, and flexibility for modernization and unique public works projects. The fact that the bill preserves retirement and benefits may have been intended to soften concerns, but the exemption from chapters 76 and 89 remains the central issue.