STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1035

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1409

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1409, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the family leave period for an employee who is unable to perform employment duties because of the birth to a child who is required to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit; and

(2) Require the Department of Health to amend its administrative rules to ensure that neonatal care is included as a related medical condition on par with pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks! and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1409, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair