HI HB1398

Establishes a new bargaining unit (unit 16) for state and county telecommunications and emergency dispatchers and similar telecommunications dispatch personnel.

Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 89-6 to add telecommunications and emergency dispatchers to the list of appropriate bargaining units for collective bargaining purposes.

Assigns voting authority for bargaining unit 16 negotiations to the governor (4 votes) and each mayor (1 vote each), matching the structure used for firefighters and police officers.

Recognizes that dispatchers perform critical services under stressful conditions beyond clerical duties and deserve categorization separate from standard white collar employees.

Effective date June 30, 3000 (appears to contain a clerical error in the statutory effective date).