STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1557

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 213

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, 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 expand employee protections under the State's family leave law.

 

     Specifically, the measure:

 

(1)  Permits an employee to take family leave to care for the employee's sibling with a serious health condition or upon the death of the employee's child, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary, sibling, or parent; and

 

(2)  Specifies notice and certification requirements.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142.

 

     Written comments in opposition were received from the Hawaii Restaurant Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Credit Union League, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Kahala Nui, John Mullen and Company, SHRM Hawaii, and two individuals.

 

     The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, and Hawaii Children's Action Network submitted written comments on the measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that expanding the scope of coverage under the family leave law recognizes that the concept of "ohana" in Hawaii involves a broader definition of family and family duties.  Employees may need time away from work to care for a sibling with a serious health condition or address matters that arise after the death of the employee's child, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary, sibling, or parent.

 

     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 H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair