Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB2468: Relating to Internship Programs.
Status: In committee, May 1, 2026
Expands the on-the-job training work experience program for the private sector by authorizing the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enter into contracts with trade organizations to provide on-the-job training to participating interns. Removes the requirement that high school, college, or university graduates have graduated within 1 year of applying for the on-the-job training work experience program and state internship and workforce development program. Repeals the requirement that participating sponsors contribute 50 per cent of each intern's fringe benefits. Amends the state internship and workforce development program for the public sector by requiring the coordinating agency work sites to provide work experience that helps interns meet the minimum qualification requirements for employment in the relevant positions, including civil service positions. Transfers certain duties from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of Human Resources Development. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to apply the internship experience towards the minimum qualification requirements for similar civil service positions. Appropriates moneys.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. SECTION 1, Section 76-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (h) to read as follows: "(h) The director shall establish rules to implement this section that shall be in accordance with the following: (1) Whenever a position exempted under subsection (b) or (c) is no longer exempted from the civil service, normal civil service recruitment procedures shall spply, unless the incumbent is to be retained without the necessity for examination by action of the legislature; provided that in such event, the incumbent shall be ret.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. SECTION 1, Section 76-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (h) to read as follows: "(h) The director shall establish rules to implement this section that shall be in accordance with the following: (1) Whenever a position exempted under subsection (b) or (c) is no longer exempted from the civil service, normal civil service recruitment procedures shall spply, unless the incumbent is to be retained without the necessity for examination by action of the legislature; provided that in such event, the incumbent shall be retained, but only if the incumbent meets the minimum qualification requirements of the position; [a-nd] (2) The manner for setting the compensation of incumbents upon their inclusion in the classification systems shall be fair and equitable in comparison to the compensation of other incumbents with comparable HB2468 SD2 LRB 26-1238.docx Page 2 2468 H.B. NO H.D. S.D. experience in the same or essentially similar classes; provided that the compensation of incumbents who are in the same bargaining unit, prior to and after their inclusion in the classification systems, shall be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement[--]; and (3) Experience gained by an intern participating in the internship program established pursuant to section 394-11 shall be applied towards the experience needed to meet the …