Merit Institute Merit

The Hawaii Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (HI-ACSA)

Hawaii state companion to ACSA. Extends licensure recognition under HRS Title 25, the University of Hawaii system and Workforce Development Council, and HRS Chapter 235/237 credits, with labor-protective worker provisions.

THE HAWAII WORKER-MERIT CREDENTIALING ACT (HI-ACSA)

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Hawaii Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (HI-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Hawaii occupational licensure operates under HRS Title 25; that the University of Hawaii system operates under HRS Chapter 304A; that the Workforce Development Council operates under HRS Chapter 202; that HRS Chapters 235 and 237 authorize income and general excise tax mechanisms; and that HRS Chapters 377 and 378 provide labor protections. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH HAWAII LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Hawaii Recognized Merit Credential” or “HIRMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the President of the University of Hawaii in coordination with the Workforce Development Council under Sec. 201.
  2. (b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
  3. (c) “Covered State licensing authority” means a board under HRS Title 25.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Hawaii Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • HRS Title 25 (licensing).
  • HRS Chapter 304A (UH system).
  • HRS Chapter 202 (Workforce Development Council).
  • HRS Chapters 235, 237 (taxation).
  • HRS Chapters 377, 378, 89 (labor, collective bargaining).

TITLE II — HAWAII RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

  1. (a) The University of Hawaii President, in coordination with the Workforce Development Council, shall maintain a Hawaii Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“HIRMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

  1. (a) The Department of Human Resources Development, acting under HRS Chapter 76, shall apply civil-service classifications so that an HIRMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Hawaii statute.

TITLE III — WORKFORCE-TRAINING TAX CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 301. Skills-Based Hiring Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to HRS Chapter 235 equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a Hawaii-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is an HIRMC or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with HRS Chapters 377, 378, 89, including prevailing-wage under HRS Chapter 104.
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Department of Taxation administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

  1. (a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting HIRMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience, subject to public health and safety requirements.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

  1. (a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

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

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on July 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 301 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

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