SB 327 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO INTERNSHIPS.

Summary

Permits the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enter into contracts with eligible employers or registered apprenticeship programs in the private sector to provide on-the-job training to eligible interns. Provides that the State shall be the responsible employer for purposes of workers' compensation coverage for students or recent graduates in the on-the-job-training work experience program, subject to certain limitations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Mar 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB327_SD1 → SB327_SD2 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands state-funded internships to include private-sector positions, allowing the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to reimburse employers up to $20 per hour for training costs. It establishes eligibility requirements for both interns and employers, mandates collaboration with the Department of Human Resources Development for state placements, and clarifies workers' compensation coverage for participants.

Scope change

Expanded from public-sector only to include private-sector internships; added interagency collaboration with DHRD for state placements.

SCOPE

Authorized state funding for private-sector internships, previously limited to public sector.

FISCAL

Established $20 per hour reimbursement rate for employers providing intern training and supervision.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific eligibility criteria requiring interns to be 16+, Hawaii residents, and meet education/grade requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Required employers to provide mentors, maintain working conditions equal to regular employees, and limit intern displacement of existing workers.

Added weekly hour limits: 40 hours for single-course students, 20 hours for students in multiple courses.

Added requirement for employers to indemnify and hold harmless the State from claims arising from internship activities.

ENFORCEMENT

Mandated annual reporting to legislature on program outcomes, participation numbers, and placement organizations.

DEFINITION

Clarified workers' compensation coverage, designating the State as the responsible employer for program participants.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1468) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 23) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-12-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 53) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Moriwaki.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to LBT, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

10 primary · 1 co-sponsor