Confusion within the Ige administration over Hawaii’s collective bargaining law is slowing aid to departments feeling the crunch of the coronavirus crisis.

Lawmakers and staff were told to work at home.

Lawmakers will聽only reconvene in an emergency situation. In the meantime, many legislators and staff will continue to work in their offices.

Senate Bill 2038 would exempt boards from Hawaii鈥檚 Sunshine Law on meetings when emergencies like COVID-19 are in effect.

Some lawmakers still think $13 an hour is too low though.

Most companies already pay above minimum wage and those that have had to raise pay came through it relatively unscathed.

The proposal would also prevent insurers from charging co-payments or deductibles for drugs, appointments and procedures.

The measures propose slight increases to the minimum wage, more affordable housing, a streamlined school maintenance program and expansion of pre-school.

The auditor determined that none of the 63 special funds that legislators wanted to create this session met the high legal bar they set for themselves in 2013.

As hundreds of bills get set to cross between the House and Senate, hundreds more are now likely dead this session.