HI HB2627

Establishes a new bargaining unit (14) for ocean safety and water safety officers employed by the State or counties to achieve more accurate collective bargaining representation.

Removes ocean safety and water safety officers from bargaining units (3) and (4), which were created in the early 1970s and encompass supervisory and nonsupervisory white-collar employees.

Recognizes that ocean safety and water safety officer duties have evolved and now require higher skill levels, technical abilities, and rigorous physical training not adequately represented by existing broad bargaining units.

Amends terminology to replace "public sector union" with "exclusive representative" for consistency with current statutory language.

Specifies that no election by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board shall be directed within bargaining units from which employees are transferred to the new bargaining unit, if those employees are covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement.