Committee approves internship program bill with amendments, notes $190,632 appropriation to DHERD

The Hawaii Senate Committee on Labor and Technology voted March 18 to pass House Bill 2468, House Draft 1, which updates and clarifies the state internship program framework (Helemua) and incorporates technical amendments from the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

University, agency and advocacy witnesses described the program’s role in workforce development. Deborah Halbert (University of Hawaii) and Savannah Peskin (Maui program specialist, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities) testified in support; Peskin described her route from intern to hire and highlighted ongoing barriers including 89‑day hire status and benefit gaps. Deputy Attorney General Lawrence Sugai described draft contract clarifications for sponsors and recommended the committee adopt AG technical amendments.

Committee members pressed DLIR and DHERD on operational details: DLIR staff said DLIR human resources conducts initial criminal background checks for Helemua participants and refers cases with serious convictions to DHERD for suitability investigations. DHERD said it provides onboarding and host trainings (including on‑demand ethics training from the State Ethics Commission) and that responsibility depends on the job classification. Senators discussed options to streamline transitions from 89‑day hire statuses into civil‑service positions when departments wish to retain interns.

The committee accepted AG and DLIR suggested amendments, changed a permissive term to mandatory in one subsection, adjusted the effective date, and noted a committee report appropriation of $190,632 and two full‑time equivalent positions to DHERD to support implementation. The Chair recommended passing HB2468 with those amendments and the recommendation was adopted.

What's next: The bill advances with the committee’s amendments and the committee‑report appropriation; departments will continue coordinating implementation details and paperwork for background checks, onboarding and recruitment.