HI HR53

Requests the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish an Underground Economy Interagency Task Force to combat underground economy activities and employee misclassification in Hawaii's construction industry.

Task force will be chaired by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations and include representatives from federal, state, and county agencies including the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Taxation, Attorney General, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and county planning and permitting departments.

Task force will strengthen law compliance through education, conduct interagency investigations, protect worker rights and safety, identify areas of underground economy prevalence, recommend regulatory or statutory changes, and consult with business, labor, and community representatives.

Task force must submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and county officials describing its activities, identifying barriers to effectiveness, and proposing administrative or legislative changes to strengthen operations.

All state and county executive branch agencies are requested to cooperate with the task force and provide necessary information and assistance to support its investigative and enforcement purposes.