STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3559

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2148

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 2148, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Extend Hawaii family leave to include care for employees' grandchildren;

(2) Define "sibling"; and

(3) Amend the definition of "child" to include grandchildren.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Community Alliance on Prisons; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's multi-generational households consist of grandparents who are often the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. However, existing law does not allow protected leave for grandparents to care for their grandchildren. Your Committee further finds that by providing grandparents protected leave, the struggle with the decision to forgo employment and income to care for a family member with a serious health condition is alleviated, affording economic security to families during difficult life situations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the amended definition of "child";

(2) Inserting "grandchild" where appropriate to assure that the intent of this measure is effectuated;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2148, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2148, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair