Hawaii SB 2201: RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Bill Text

THE SENATE
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII S.B. NO. 220!
JAN 2 1 2026
A BILL FORAN ACT
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RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by
adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:
"CHAPTER
HAWAII STATE FELLOWS PROGRAM
§ -1 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
"Department" means the department of human resources
development.
"Program" means the Hawaii state fellows program.
"State agency" means the executive, legislative, or
judicial branches of state government, including departments,
offices, divisions, or other agencies within the executive,
legislative, or judicial branches.
§ -2 Hawaii state fellows program; established. (a)
There is established within the department the Hawaii state
fellows program to match talented applicants with full-time,
paid fellowship roles in various state agencies for a period of
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ten to eleven months to attract and retain government workers in
the State.
(b) The program shall include but not be limited to the
following:
(1) Full-time, paid employment opportunities for eligible
applicants to work on a broad range of public policy
issues and projects within various state agencies for
a period of ten to eleven months;
(2) Career and leadership skills development trainings,
workshops, and seminars;
(3) A mentorship program structure; and
(4) Feedback and evaluation mechanisms to allow fellows,
participating state agencies, and other stakeholders
to assess the effectiveness of the program in
achieving its goals.
(c) The department shall coordinate with state agencies to:
(1) Establish full-time, paid fellowship roles to be
offered through the program to provide professional
development and hands-on experience in state
governance;
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(2) Establish administrative policies and procedures for
the implementation of the program and the integration
of fellowship roles into the state government
workflow;
(3) Promote the program; and
(4) Recruit eligible applicants.
(d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91
necessary for the purposes of this chapter.
§ -3 Hawaii state fellows program; minimum
qualifications; preference. (a) To be eligible for the
program, applicants shall meet the following minimum
qualifications:
(1) Completed a bachelor's degree by September 1 of the
calendar year in which the fellowship begins;
(2) Earned:
(A) A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of
2.5 or higher; or
(B) A grade point average of 2.5 or higher in the
last sixty semester units or ninety quarter
units;
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(3) Be twenty years of age or older by September 1 of the
calendar year in which the fellowship begins;
(4) Be capable and prepared for full-time employment; and
(5) Be authorized to work in the United States for the
duration of the fellowship program;
provided that an applicant who is not a United States citizen
shall provide proof of appropriate immigration status; provided
further that an applicant who requires a F-1 or J-1 work visa,
or who holds any work permit requiring participation in the
E-Verify employment eligibility verification system, shall not
be eligible for the program.
(b) To apply for the program, eligible applicants shall
submit:
(1) A completed online application;
(2) A personal statement or policy statement that
addresses the applicant's commitment to serving the
State;
(3) A resume;
(4) The names of three individuals who will serve as
references;
(5) A minimum of two letters of recommendation; and
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(6) Transcripts from each college and university attended.
(c) The department shall give preference to eligible
program applicants who have:
(1) A pre-existing connection to the State; or
(2) A demonstrated commitment to long-term leadership in
the State."
SECTION 2. The department of human resources development
shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations,
including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later
than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session
of 2027 on the status and results of the Hawaii state fellows
program, including:
(1) The number of fellows that applied and participated in
the program;
(2) Key accomplishments of the program; and
(3) The budget and expenditures of the program.
SECTION 3. 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 Hawaii state fellows program.
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