STAND. COM. REP. NO.  493-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2311

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2311 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect public health while also protecting the rights of employees by prohibiting an employer from taking any adverse action against an employee for complying with a quarantine order issued by the Department of Health (DOH).

     The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Hawaii Government Employees Association testified in support of this bill.

     As markets are becoming more global and traveling around the world has become easier, the threat of spreading infectious diseases has grown.  Since quarantines have been found to be effective in hindering the spread of infectious diseases, recent outbreaks of highly infectious diseases have required quarantines to be put in place in countries around the world.  As additional diseases requiring containment are expected to arise, it is not beyond possibility that quarantines will be put in place in Hawaii.  If this becomes necessary, employees who comply with a quarantine order issued by DOH should not have to fear losing their positions or wages, or being disciplined in any way for their actions.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2311 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair