HRA | Sheryl Matsuoka
Take Action and Exercise Your Right to Vote Vote. You already vote hundreds of times a day. When you put gas in your car this week you voted on where your dollars would be spent by choosing which gas station you would patronize. When you go home tonight and decide what to watch on TV, you’re voting on which TV station earns your attention. These are just simple examples of the power you hold. Use your voting power wisely when voting for our next government leaders. Select local, state and national representatives who have the same beliefs as you do and that you believe will make decisions with everyone’s best interests in mind. As a voter, you should also be confident to contact your current representatives, share your concerns and ask for their help in helping keep Hawaii affordable and a great place to live for everyone. Your Hawaii Restaurant Association’s Government Affairs Committee has
been meeting monthly, strategizing and planning how we as an industry will be approaching the upcoming legislative session starting on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and which is sure to include issues that will have a significant impact on the restaurant industry and your business. Make sure your voice is heard loud and clear by submitting written testimony for each bill and testifying in person at hearings. This is an invitation to join us. We’ll keep you informed and up-to-date. Email us at info@hawaiirestaurant.org to get on our legislative email list. I have listed a few issues to focus on: • Minimum Wage Bill SB789 is sure to be a major issue this session. Shaping laws that address employees earning higher wages while meeting our customers’ spending expectations and maintaining a profitable business is going to require a tremendous effort to educate our state legislators on the impact of minimum wage increases. Your
2020 F&B BILLS
legiscan.com/HI/bill/SB789/2020 legiscan.com/HI/bill/SB648/2020 legiscan.com/HI/bill/SB260/2020
testimony, along with contacting your representatives directly this session, is going to be mission-critical to ensure minimum wage legislation does not threaten our businesses’ survival. • Fair Scheduling Bill SB648 requires employers to provide their employees with written notice of the employee’s shift schedule at least 10 calendar days in advance. This can greatly affect business owners who schedule their employees based on open availability. • One bill that has the full support of the restaurant organization is Plastic Straw Bill SB260. This bill prohibits the distribution of plastic straws. Many of our casual- and fine-dining restaurant members implemented this practice years ago. Only upon request will the server provide a straw. Our quick-service restaurants, as a courtesy, leave the straws near the napkins and leave the final decision of using a straw up to our patrons. Many of our patrons who require straws due to a medical condition have started carrying their own reusable straws in support of this bill. If you are not already registered to vote, register today. Exercise your right to express yourself directly to your elected officials and your voting power. There is nothing more important to the future of our state than having government officials that support bills that are the best for our state. Take action! Sheryl Matsuoka is executive director of the Hawaii Restaurant Association. For more information on the HRA, email Info@ hawaiirestaurant.org or call 944-9105.
50 | HAWA I I H O S P I TA LI T Y | W I N T E R 2 0 2 0