THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

60

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE A WORK-FAMILY TASK FORCE TO REVIEW HAWAII'S WORK-FAMILY LAWS AND POLICIES, AND REQUESTING the legislative reference bureau to study OTHER STATES' laws AND PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE GOOD work-family policy.

 

WHEREAS, working families bear two important responsibilities, often referred to as work-family issues, which are caring for family members and earning the income needed to support their families; and

WHEREAS, working families are headed by individuals of all ages, requiring many different types of caregiving responsibilities and preferences for employment; and

WHEREAS, working families with young children have patent work-family challenges as they must provide for the care of their children; and

WHEREAS, many working families have responsibilities for family members with extraordinary needs, including children with special needs, adults with disabilities, and dependent elders; and

WHEREAS, presently, a growing number of working families include single parent families, parents who share custody of their children, and single individuals who help to care for relatives; and

WHEREAS, conflicts over work-family issues will often enter the workplace, becoming issues of concern to employers; and

WHEREAS, examples of work-family issues that manifest itself out of the workplace are employees who may miss work when unable to make arrangements for unexpected or unusual family needs or become preoccupied with work-family issues and consequently are unable to focus on work; and

WHEREAS, additionally, some employees who want or need to work full-time, may decide to cut back on work hours or completely leave the workforce because they cannot meet the demands of both caring for a family and working full-time; and

WHEREAS, many states, including Hawaii, have enacted a multitude of laws which support state policies that seek to assist families with work-family issues in order to develop a sustainable and successful economy through workforce development; and

WHEREAS, some of the issues addressed in these state policies include the provision of child care and afterschool programs, employer strategies for easing work-family tensions, family and medical leave, flextime, and family care for older relatives; and

WHEREAS, although policies are in place within the State to provide for work-family issues, it is unclear as to the extent of the success or failure of the implementation of these programs and policies; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, request the Governor to convene a Work-Family Task Force consisting of representatives from the executive and judicial agencies, and private entities that deal directly with working families, to review Hawaii's work-family laws and policies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to study other states' laws and practices identified as promoting good work-family policy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Work-Family Task Force are each requested to submit a separate report of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Report Title:

Work-Family Task Force & LRB Study; Work-Family Policy