STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1067

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 782

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 782, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to reduce the economic effects of domestic or sexual violence on employers and employees by providing unemployment insurance benefits to individuals who are separated from their employment as a result of domestic or sexual violence.

     The Domestic Violence Action Center and Sex Abuse Treatment Center testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu supported this bill with amendments.

     Victims of domestic violence are often at greater risk of losing their employment.  Often, domestic abusers, as a means of maintaining control over their victim, target their victim's places of employment and their ability to remain financially self-sufficient.  By allowing victims of domestic or sexual violence to be eligible for unemployment benefits if they are forced to leave their jobs due to the effects of their victimization, they will retain the means to be financially secure.  Your Committees find that this will strengthen the safety and security of victims of domestic or sexual violence.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 782, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 782, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs,

____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair

____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair