b'HAWAIIEnergy Marketers Association ReportSTATEAt the time of writingthis article,by an existing, operational Reports Hawaiis legislative session will be ap- stevedoring company that is proximately a month away from wrappingoperating within the state, up. This session has been characterizedbecause they increase costs by drama of every kind. Residents andthat ultimately will be borne businesses got a front row seat to see howby consumers and create our legislature operates. News articles haveenergy supply disruptions.called out bullying tactics by certain legisla- Relating to Family Leave: tors and how their theatrics have gotten in theHEMA opposed a bill that way of sound policymaking. The aloha spiritrequires the Department has become elusive in the State Capitol building.of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish andEric Wright Even Governor Josh Green, who once served inadminister a family leaveHEMA Presidentthe legislature as a senator has not escaped theinsurance program. Provides wrath of certain legislators. So far two of his Cabi- that businesses employing net nominees have been declined and there are stillone or more employees who more that will have to undergo the arduous processmeet the hourly qualifications of being confirmed by the Senate. The nominees forwould be required to provide the Department of Business, Economic Developmentfamily leave insurance ben-and Tourism, who oversees the State Energy Office,efits, and extends the period Hawaii Tourism Authority, and Aloha Stadium; andof family leave to 16 weeks, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which haseliminating the previous $600 million to spend on housing for Native Hawai- threshold of 100 employees ians, were not confirmed, leaving their departmentsfor employers. This measure without current leadership. We continue to keep awould add more costs to close eye on who will be our new Cabinet members, asemployers and small businesses that would prolong our HEMA members are impacted by these decisions.economic recovery, and the costs would likely be There are numerous bills on a broad range of issuespassed on to customers. that we have been monitoring or actively engaged inRelating to Health: Some HEMA members opposed voicing our concerns: this measure that prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco Relating to Consumer Protection: HEMA raisedproducts and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine concerns that these bills, which require servicefree and authorizes the Department of Health to ap-stations to affix, bear or attach an environmentalpoint, commission, or contract for services of inspec-warning label at each dispensing gas pump subject totors, because there is already enforcement by stores on Public Utilities Commission approval, are unneces- controlling underage smoking. sary because there are already adequate labels atRelating to Consumer Protection: HEMA opposed dispensing gas pumps. this bill that requires self-service stations to put labels Relating to Fair Scheduling: HEMA opposedon gas dispensing equipment that advise consumers this bill because it requires employers to provideon the effects of fossil fuel consumption to human written notice of the employees shift schedulehealth and the environment because there are already ten days in advance before the scheduled workadequate warning labels at dispensing gas pumps. and compensate employees twice their regularRelating to Paid Sick Leave: HEMA opposed this pay for time worked when shift scheduledbill that requires employers to provide a minimum was not provided in a timely manner. Thisamount of paid sick leave to employees to be used to measure would limit businesses from hav- care for themselves or a family member who is ill or ing the flexibility to create schedules thatneeds medical care, and supplemental paid sick leave meet their needs.to employees under certain public health emergency Relating to Mooring Lines: Manyconditions. Many businesses already offer paid leave businesses, including Par Hawaii,programs as a means to retaining their workforce; and IES, and Aloha Petroleum, op- the mandate would add another burden to the extreme-posed these bills that requirely high cost of running a business in Hawaii. commodities and manifested cargo requiring tug as-sistance to be mannedS20www.wpma.com / Post WPMAEXPO 2023'