House Committee on Labor & Public Employment
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
9:00 a.m.
HB 1048, Relating to Elections.
Dear Chairman Nakashima and Committee Members:
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly supports proposed measure HB 1048.
Currently the ability of public employees to seek and obtain public office is restricted by requirements that upon election to office the employee must resign or be terminated in their employment. These requirements are onerous and actively discourages citizens from participating in elected office simply because they are a public employee. HB 1048 seeks to redress the issue where public employees running for office do not get elected. This bill will allow for reemployment for these individuals so there is not an economic penalty for simply seeking office.
Respectively submitted,
Kristeen Hanselman
Associate Executive Director