HB1373 HD2 relating to WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT will be heard in a joint committee hearing of the Senate Energy, Economic Development, and Ways and Means committees.
HB1373 HD2 requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, And Tourism to administer a workforce development incentive rebate program that incentivizes local independent film and television productions. The hearing notice can be viewed here.
We are asking for your help to keep this bill moving.
Testimony must be received by 1 p.m., Monday, April 3, 2023.
Submitting online written testimony is easy.
Again, any testimony must be received by 1 p.m., Monday, April 3, 2023.
Go to the bill’s status page for HB1373 HD2. Look in the upper right-hand part of the screen, and click on the orange “Submit Testimony” button. You need to do this separately for each bill.
If you still need to create a login, you will be instructed on how to do so. After that, it is just a few clicks to have your voice heard.
Here are instructions on how to submit a testimony.
When submitting testimony, you need not write anything out, it is as simple as clicking the “SUPPORT” button. However, if you are so inclined to write more, please consider including the following.
- Thanking the Legislature for supporting our members in Hawaii.
- Stating that you are supporting HB1373 HD2.
- Mentioning that a robust and stable incentive program that incorporates workforce development incentives is not only good for our members, crew, technicians and the creative industries, it benefits the whole state.
- Mentioning that HB1373 HD2 “encourages the growth of local independent film and television productions by requiring the department of business economic development and tourism to administer a workforce development incentive rebate program that incentivizes local independent film and television productions.” Independent films and lower-budget projects provide wages for our members and create more opportunities for local actors, performers and stunt people to hone their craft; thus growing a better-prepared, more attractive workforce ready to be hired for more roles on bigger-budget studio projects.
- Mentioning that HB1373 HD2 protects performers and creative industry workers by discouraging the misclassification of employees as independent contractors in lower-budget film/TV productions. Misclassifying employees as independent contractors robs them of state and federally-mandated employee protections, leading to potentially uninsured injury claims, wage theft and other violations. Additionally, the misclassification of workers can result in a reduction in state tax and unemployment insurance collections.
Thank you for your support and for taking the time to read this email. Please contact mericia.palmaelmore@sagaftra.org with questions.