HB 2024

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
2024
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating
to the Construction Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION 1.� The
legislature finds that the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated unprecedented
measures to protect public health and safety within the State. �Pursuant to the governor's emergency
proclamations relating to the pandemic, beginning with the initial proclamation
on March 4, 2020, and subsequent supplementary proclamations, certain
industries and workers were designated as essential to maintain critical
infrastructure and services.
���� The legislature further finds that the
construction industry and its workers were consistently designated as essential
throughout the emergency periods declared under the proclamations. �During the declared emergency periods,
construction workers performed duties crucial for the State's infrastructure,
including work on numerous state and federally funded projects, often under
conditions that presented potential health risks due to exposure to COVID-19.
���� The legislature recognizes the vital
contributions and potential hazards faced by essential construction workers who
maintained operations during the declared public health emergencies.
���� Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish
a five-year program within the department of labor and industrial relations to provide
a one-time hazard pay bonus to eligible construction workers in recognition of and
as compensation for the crucial duties performed and the risks undertaken by
them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
���� SECTION 2.�
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Construction
Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program Act".
���� SECTION 3.�
(a)� The department shall
establish a construction worker COVID-19 hazard pay program.� A
construction worker is eligible for a one-time hazard pay bonus under the program
if an individual:
���� (1)� Was a construction worker during the eligible
period;
���� (2)� Performed eligible construction work in the
State for a minimum of five hundred hours during the eligible period;
���� (3)� Provides verifiable proof of employment and
hours worked performing eligible construction work during the eligible period,
such as pay stubs, employer verification letters, or other documentation deemed
sufficient by the department; and
���� (4)� Submits a complete application form to the
department within the timeframe established pursuant to subsection (c).
���� (b)� Under the program, eligible construction
workers may receive a one-time hazard pay bonus of $20,000, less applicable
state and federal taxes.� No eligible
construction worker shall receive more than one payment under the program,
regardless of working for multiple employers or during multiple periods within
the eligible period.
���� (c)� The department shall:
���� (1)� No later than January 5, 2027, develop and
make publicly available an application form for construction workers to apply to
the program;
���� (2)� Establish a deadline for application
submission; provided that the deadline shall be no earlier than one hundred
eighty days after the application forms become publicly available;
���� (3)� Review applications, verify eligibility of applicants,
and process payments to eligible construction workers;
���� (4)� Conduct outreach to inform potential eligible
construction workers and applicable employers about the program; and
���� (5)� Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii
Revised Statutes, necessary to implement the program.
���� SECTION
4.� As used in this Act:
���� "Construction
worker" means an individual employed in the construction industry who
performs labor on a construction job site in the State.� "Construction worker" includes
laborers, skilled tradespersons, ironworkers, electricians, plumbers, sheet
metal workers, masons, roofers, operating engineers, carpenters, and site
supervisors directly overseeing labor performed on construction job sites.
���� "Department"
means the department of labor and industrial relations.
���� "Eligible
construction work" means construction work designated as essential under
one or more emergency proclamations issued by the governor in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
���� "Eligible
period" means the period beginning on May 5, 2020, and ending on May 25,
2023, inclusive.
���� "Program"
means the construction worker COVID-19 hazard pay program.
���� SECTION 5.�
There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $  or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the implementation
and operation of the construction worker COVID-19 hazard pay program
established by this Act; provided that this appropriation shall not lapse at
the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided further
that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2031,
shall lapse as of that date.
���� The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION 6.�
If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person
or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other
provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act
are severable.
���� SECTION 7.� This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026,
and shall be repealed on June 30, 2031.
INTRODUCED
  BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DLIR;
Construction Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program; Appropriation
Description:
Requires
the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish and administer
the Construction Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program.� Appropriates funds to pay eligible
construction workers a one-time payment in recognition for essential labor
performed during the COVID-19 pandemic.�
Sunsets 6/30/2031.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.