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GM 1394

Informing the Legislature that on July 3, 2025, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB447 HD1 CD1 (ACT 291).

2025 Regular Session

DOH Hiring Pilot allows limited, time-bound delegation of HR tasks to DOH, enabling direct hiring and outside-the-list appointments to address public health worker shortages.

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Bill Summary · GM 1394

Summary of SB447, CD1 (ACT 291) as Implemented by GM1394

GM1394 serves as the governor’s proclamation notifying the Legislature that SB447, HD1, CD1 has been signed into law as Act 291, dated July 3, 2025. The act creates a Department of Health (DOH) Hiring Pilot Program to address public health workforce shortages.

Purpose and Context

  • The Legislature identifies a critical shortage of public health workers and broader skilled labor in Hawaii, citing vacancies (e.g., 900 in 2024) and competition for qualified staff.
  • The policy aims to streamline and accelerate DOH hiring by allowing targeted delegation of certain human-resources functions from the Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) to DOH, under a defined pilot period.

Key Provisions

  1. Establishment of a DOH Hiring Pilot Program (Section 2(a))

    • The DOH may participate in a pilot program to delegate certain HR tasks under Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 76 and related HRD policies.

  2. Application Processing and Qualifications (Section 2(a)(1))

    • For delegated classifications, DOH HR may forward applications to the DOH hiring program without first verifying minimum qualifications.
    • DOH HR must verify minimum qualifications before extending an offer of employment.

  3. Temporary Delegation and Flexibilities (Section 2(a)(1)-(2))

    • HRD may approve temporary delegation of additional classifications requested by DOH.
    • DOH gains flexibilities for positions with salaries at or below SR-10, including:
      • Treating required minimum qualifications as desired qualifications.
      • Substituting certain community college programs for required/desired experience.
    • DOH must specify any minimum qualification changes or substitutes in recruitment postings.

  4. Direct Hiring and Temporary Outside-the-List Appointments (Section 2(a)(3)-(4))

    • DOH may directly hire an individual who meets minimum qualifications into a civil service position if there are more than five vacant positions for that classification.
    • The DOH Director may make temporary appointments outside the civil service list at the merited pay scale without step limits, with DOH notifying HRD of all such appointments (these are non-civil service temporary appointments outside the list per HRD policy 300.001).

  5. Scope and Duration (Section 2(b))

    • The pilot program is available for recruitments initiated before July 1, 2028.

  6. Reporting and Legislative Review (Section 2(c))

    • DOH must report findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the start of the regular sessions in 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029.

  7. Effective Date and Sunset (Section 3)

    • Effective July 1, 2025.
    • The pilot program repeals on July 1, 2028.

Who Is Affected

  • State: Department of Health (DOH), Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD).
  • Employees: DOH hiring and HR staff, as well as applicants for DOH civil service positions.
  • Affected roles include classifications within the DOH that might fall under the pilot’s delegated authority.

Miscellaneous Notes

  • The act emphasizes merit principles while offering flexibility to address urgent public health hiring needs.
  • The policy relies on preexisting HRD rules and procedures (e.g., minimum qualifications, policy 200.004 and policy 300.001) but adapts them for the DOH pilot.

If you’d like, I can add a side-by-side comparison with existing non-pilot hiring processes or provide a brief FAQ for DOH administrators.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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