Merit Institute Merit

The Hawaii Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (HI-AI-Workforce)

Hawaii state companion to the federal AI Workforce Act. Leverages HRS Chapter 235 credits, the UH system, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation with labor-protective training credits and public-option R&D matching grants.

THE HAWAII PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (HI-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. Hawaii State Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Economic Development / Labor and Tourism / Finance.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Hawaii Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (HI-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that AI adoption is an opportunity to raise wages and worker voice; that HRS Chapter 235 authorizes income tax credits; that the University of Hawaii operates under HRS Chapter 304A; that the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation operates under HRS Chapter 206M; and that HRS Chapters 377, 378, 89 protect workers.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH HAWAII LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “AI-adjacent occupation” is aligned to the federal AI Workforce Act.
  2. (b) “Labor-management partnership” means a jointly administered training program.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Hawaii Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • HRS Chapter 235 (income tax).
  • HRS Chapter 304A (UH).
  • HRS Chapter 206M (HTDC).
  • HRS Chapters 377, 378, 89 (labor).

TITLE II — WORKER-MERIT AI TRAINING CREDIT (Labor-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 201. Pro-Worker AI Training Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to HRS Chapter 235 equal to a percentage of qualified training expenditures for Hawaii-resident workers training in AI-adjacent occupations.
  2. (b) Enhanced rate where delivered through a labor-management partnership, registered apprenticeship under HRS Chapter 372, or University of Hawaii Community Colleges.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Department of Taxation administers.

TITLE III — HAWAII AI APPRENTICESHIPS

Sec. 301. Registered Apprenticeship Priority

  1. (a) The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Apprenticeship Division shall prioritize registered AI-adjacent apprenticeships under HRS Chapter 372.

TITLE IV — PUBLIC-OPTION R&D MATCHING GRANTS

Sec. 401. HTDC Matching Grants

  1. (a) HTDC, in coordination with the UH system, shall operate a Hawaii AI R&D Matching Grant Program funding open-source, public-interest AI research aligned to federal public-option infrastructure, with priority to labor-management partnerships and UH community colleges and MSIs on neutral, competency-based criteria.

TITLE V — WORKER VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 501. Worker Voice

  1. (a) HRS Chapters 377, 378, 89 protections preserved; credits conditioned on non-interference with protected concerted activity.

Sec. 502. Data Transparency

  1. (a) Published dashboard through the UH system and Workforce Development Council, crosswalked to the Federal NLMF.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on July 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 201 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce Act. Other Hawaii bills: HI-ACSA, HI-MEWRA, HI-GT&P.