STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1381-08  -08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 160

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.C.R. No. 160 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE FOURTH TUESDAY IN APRIL AS EQUAL PAY DAY IN HAWAII, AND URGING CONGRESS TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE REMEDIES FOR VICTIMS OF WAGE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to acknowledge the wage disparity gap between men and women that still exists 45 years after the Equal Pay Act of 1963. The latest statistics from the census bureau show that females, on average, earn only 77% of what males earn. The fourth Tuesday of April is significant as it represents the day that a female would have to work until to equal her male counterparts' pay of the previous year.

     Equal Pay Day has been established and recognized by numerous states including Illinois and Michigan and through a proclamation by former Governor Cayetano in the year 2000.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 160 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair