STAND. COM. REP. NO.489

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 778

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 778 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide up to six weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off from work pursuant to Chapter 398, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to care for a family member with a serious health condition or a child upon birth or adoption.

This measure also provides that temporary disability benefits for family leave would be provided through employee contributions.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the ILWU Local 142.

Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Society for Human Resources Management, and the Hawaii Bankers Association. Additionally, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations presented oral testimony in opposition to this measure.

Your Committees find that existing law provides for the payment of temporary disability benefits for wage loss sustained by an individual because of a disabling nonoccupational sickness, pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or injury from an accident that is not compensable under the workers' compensation law. Temporary disability benefits are available for up to twenty-six weeks for qualifying disabled employees.

Your Committees determine that similar compensation should be extended to employees qualifying for family leave pursuant to Chapter 398, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Employees taking family leave are also unable to work because they need to care for a family member with a serious health condition or require time to care for a child upon birth or adoption.

Therefore, your Committees believe that up to six weeks of wage replacement benefits should be provided for workers who take time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition or to care for a child upon birth or adoption.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 778 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

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RON MENOR, Chair

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BRIAN KANNO, Chair