The State Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 held a hearing on Friday to discuss the state’s response to COVID-19.  One of the participants was Ryder Wada, Director of the Dept. of Human Resource Development.  The Senators in the hearing expressed frustration that the State has not redeployed state workers who are not working at their regular jobs, and may be home, to other departments with needs.  Another option is asking departments to reassign workers currently at work, if possible.

One area of need is the State’s Unemployment Office.  State Senator Donovan delaCruz  (D-Mililani Mauka) noted that State Health Director Bruce Anderson, for example,  has said he needs 100 people to help with contact tracing of those people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Wada said he’s not sure what departments need help nor what state workers might be available.  DelaCruz asked Governor David Ige’s Chief of Staff, Linda Chu Takayama, to be more aggressive in getting the State Cabinet Director to advise Wada what they need.

Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach) asked Wada to be more proactive in helping get state employees reassigned, since some of the help needed does not require specialized training other than the ability to make phone calls.  He said the State Senate offered 40 volunteers from their staffs to work in other departments in need, but said that the Chief of Staff rejected the offer.

Sen. Michelle Kidani (D, Mililani Town) suggested that Wada have his staff watch the State Senate Special Committee’s hearings, as several Department Heads have come before the Committee with their specific needs.

Photo is Senator Donovan delaCruz.