Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 936 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide unemployment benefits to those who are separated from employment as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Community Alliance on Prisons.

Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Comments on this measure were submitted by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

Your Committee finds that economic security is an important factor in enabling victims of domestic violence to keep themselves and their children safe. Many victims of domestic violence often cite lack of economic security as a roadblock to leaving or staying out of an abusive situation. Victims with children face even more challenging decisions about how to safely leave an abusive situation, provide for their children, and work to ensure economic security for their family.

Some victims turn to domestic violence shelters as a temporary means to provide a safe place for themselves and their children. At the point when a victim enters a shelter, it is likely that the family is in crisis and the victim may be unable to function in a work environment. It is also possible that appearing at the workplace could place the victim in further danger.

Therefore, your Committee finds that the State must support these victims by ensuring unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking. However, your Committee believes that the measure must be amended to clarify the requirement of a victim's compliance with the mandates of Chapter 383, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure as follows:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 936, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 936, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.