Extends from sixty to ninety days the time before which employers must give employees and the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (Director) prior notice of intention to close, partially close, or relocate a covered establishment. Requires employers to provide written notification of the discontinuance or termination of housing or housing assistance to employees and the Director; except when the discontinuance or termination is due to an employee's resignation or termination for cause.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Section 394B-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§394B-1 Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that there is a need [for] to provide employment and training assistance for dislocated workers in Hawaii, [and that there is a need] to protect employees from the effects of unexpected and sudden layoffs or terminations resulting from closings, plant closures, partial plant closures, and relocations[.], and to give adequate notice to employees of the discontinuance or termination of employer-provided housing or housing assistance."

SECTION 2. Section 394B-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§394B-9 Notification. (a) An employer in a covered establishment shall provide to each employee and the director written notification of a closing, partial closing, or relocation at least [sixty] ninety days prior to its occurrence.

(b) An employer in a covered establishment providing housing or housing assistance to an employee shall give the employee and the director at least one hundred eighty days prior written notification of the discontinuance or termination of the housing or housing assistance; provided that notice under this subsection is not required when the discontinuance or termination of housing or housing assistance results from an employee's resignation or termination for cause.

(c) For the purposes of this section, "housing assistance" means any stipend, subsidy, relocation fee, sub-market lease, or other financial assistance to be used toward housing and that an employer provides to an employee."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.