STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1027

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 982

       H.D. 3

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 982, H.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY LEAVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a web-based, family leave data collection system to gather and analyze family caregiving data for public and private-sector employees, which will be used for the future development and implementation of an efficient state family leave system.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state agency and three organizations.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by two state agencies, one organization, and one individual.  Comments were submitted by one organization.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that there is a growing need for family caregivers as the population of elderly with physical, mental, and other needs increases.  Your Committee further finds that family caregivers often incur significant reductions in work hours and make many other work-related sacrifices to serve as caregivers.

     Your Committee believes that more research is necessary to determine the number of people who might participate in a family leave system and the feasibility, operational details, and benefits of the system.

     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 H.B. No. 982, H.D. 3, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair