STAND. COM. REP. NO. 94-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1959

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1959 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF A MINOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen employer compliance with the Child Labor Law as it relates to theatrical employment for minors by requiring studio teachers to accompany, supervise, and advocate on behalf of a minor whenever the minor is on set and a variance from the work hour restrictions to allowable theatrical employment is granted.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR); United Public Workers; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, Local 665 (Local 665); and three individuals. Your Committee received comments from four individuals.

Your Committee finds that currently there is no law requiring an on-set teacher to be present when a minor is employed in theatrical employment. Your Committee recognizes that a majority of the theatrical employment certificates issued by DLIR are for television or motion picture productions which can last for several hours a day or several months out of the year. This measure recognizes the importance of ensuring safe working conditions for children, as well as ensuring that their educational opportunities are protected while working on these types of productions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it clear that a studio teacher shall not be the minor's parent;

(2) Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that should this measure proceed through the legislative process, future committees may want to consider whether, in addition to licensure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, studio teachers should be required to receive additional certification from Local 665 or a similar union.

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. 1959, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1959, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair