STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3386

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2491

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2491, S.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 establish a family leave insurance benefit program in the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Extends the allowable period of family leave from four to sixteen weeks for any business in the State that employs one or more employees; and

(2) Appropriates funds for the administration of a family leave insurance benefit program in the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, Breastfeeding Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, Community Alliance on Prisons Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Pono Hawaii Initiative, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUA Alliance, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Parents and Children Together, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, March of Dimes Hawaii, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii Restaurant Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from The Queen's Health Systems and the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides working families in the State with the flexibility necessary for individuals to temporarily leave work to provide care for certain family members without risking their career or financial stability.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 2491, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2491, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair