STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1018

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.R. No. 72

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.R. No. 72 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO EXAMINE FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO ALLOW STATES TO MORE READILY ENACT UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION-RELATED LAWS THAT ALLOW FEAR OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO BE A VALID REASON FOR NOT ACCEPTING SUITABLE WORK,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this resolution is to request the United States Department of Labor to examine federal laws and regulations to allow states to more readily enact unemployment compensation-related laws that will allow fear of domestic or sexual violence to be a valid reason for not accepting suitable work.

 

     The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations submitted comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this resolution by:

 

(1)  Changing its title to read:  "REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO EXAMINE FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO ALLOW STATES TO MORE READILY ENACT UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION-RELATED LAWS THAT ALLOW FEAR OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO BE A VALID REASON FOR NOT ACCEPTING SUITABLE WORK";

 

(2)  Directing the request to the United States Congress, rather than the United States Department of Labor;

 

(3)  Expanding the scope of the measure to include an examination of "able and available" work requirements as they apply to victims of domestic or sexual violence who seek unemployment compensation and insurance benefits; and

 

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 72, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Human Services in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 72, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair