STAND. COM. REP. NO. 7-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2552

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 2552 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend, under certain conditions, the family leave period for up to eight additional weeks for employees who are unable to perform their employment duties due to the birth of a child who is required to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Breastfeeding Hawaii; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that preterm babies in particular spend weeks or months in neonatal intensive care units, requiring their parents to also spend weeks or months at neonatal intensive care units in support of their babies' care. However, for many parents, it is nearly impossible to maintain full-time employment when they are constantly caring for their baby in these circumstances. This measure supports employees who might otherwise find themselves faced with the untenable choice between preserving their employment and supporting the health of their newborn child.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2552, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2552, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair