Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 968, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow an eligible unemployed individual to receive the full weekly unemployment benefit amount to which the individual is entitled, without any reduction for wages payable to the individual for that week.

Your Committee finds that present law reduces an individual's weekly unemployment benefit amount by the amount of wages payable that week to the individual in excess of $50. Accordingly, present law at the very least tends to discourage those individuals from seeking part-time work during their period of unemployment. Moreover, present law possibly serves as an even greater disincentive for individuals to return to the work force in general. On the other hand, this measure will serve to help unemployed individuals maximize their employment opportunities and encourage them to resume work to the fullest extent possible.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date from upon approval to January 21, 2053, for the purposes of continued discussion on the matter. Your Committee has also made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 968, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 968, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.