STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1972

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 710

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 710, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect reproductive health decisions and the utilization of family leave from discriminatory employment practices.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure addresses a gap in existing State law, which bans pregnancy discrimination in the workplace but does not protect those who choose not to become pregnant or those who are trying to become pregnant.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 710, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair