STAND. COM. REP. NO. 106

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 821
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred S.B. No. 821 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to prohibit employers from
interfering with protected rights of employees or prospective
employees to file charges of civil rights violations or
discriminatory employment practice violations.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii State Commission
on the Status of Women, ILWU Local 142, National Employment
Lawyers Association, Hawaii Women's Legislative Coalition, Sex
Abuse Treatment Center, and Hawaii Women Lawyers.  Testimony in
opposition was received from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

     This measure is intended to prohibit employers from
requiring employees and prospective employees to relinquish their
rights under Hawaii's civil rights and discriminatory employment
practices laws, by including any provision to this effect in an
employment document or agreement which the employees must sign as
a condition of employment.  These rights pertain to filing
charges and participating in an investigation, hearing, trial, or
other proceeding.

     Your Committee agrees that employment rights and civil
rights of employees should be further protected by ensuring that

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 106
                                   Page 2


they are not forced to sign away these rights to be hired or to
continue employment.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 821 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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