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Committee defers proposal to establish Hawaii State Fellows Program indefinitely
Summary
The committee heard DHRD support for establishing a Hawaii State Fellows Program but deferred the resolution indefinitely because of resource concerns; DHRD recommended funding be requested in the budget bill if the program proceeds.
The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony March 24 on SCR 64 / SR 49, which would request the Department of Human Resources Development to establish a Hawaii State Fellows Program, but the committee’s recommendation was to defer the measure indefinitely.
DHRD testified in support of the program’s intent but asked that resources be provided. “We do ask, however, that resources be provided,” a DHRD deputy said, and urged that funds be included in the budget bill (HB 3) if the program moves forward. The department described an initial staffing ask that included temporary fellow positions and two permanent staff to run the program, and compared the proposal in scale to existing fellowship-style programs in state government.
Committee members did not take further action and the chair noted the recommendation to defer indefinitely. The record shows no additional testimony asking for retention or membership changes.
Why it matters: a statewide fellows program would create temporary positions for early-career public servants and support state workforce development, but it requires explicit budgetary support to staff and operate the program.
Votes at the meeting: SCR 64 / SR 49 — committee recommendation: defer indefinitely.
