Report Title:

Employment; Discriminatory Practices; Disability

 

Description:

Statutorily authorizes and requires the Hawaii civil rights commission to define in administrative rules certain definitions for purposes of discriminatory employment practices.  Takes effect January 1, 2046.  (SB1183 HD2)

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1183

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State of Hawaii has strong laws against discrimination in employment on the basis of disability, embodied in sections 378-1 and 378‑2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and rules adopted by the civil rights commission.  In many respects, state law provides stronger protections than those provided under federal law prohibiting employment discrimination based on disability.  The legislature recognizes that pursuant to California Federal Sav. and Loan Ass'n v. Guerra, 479 U.S. 272, 107 S.Ct. 683 (1987), federal law is a "floor" beneath which protections against discrimination should not drop, rather than a "ceiling" above which protections cannot rise under state anti-discrimination laws.

     The legislature further finds that on September 25, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, P.L. 110-325 ("ADAAA").  In the ADAAA, Congress found that several United States Supreme Court decisions interpreted the definition of disability inconsistently with legislative intent.  The ADAAA clarified laws relating to employment disability, broadening the definition of disability and resulting in certain federal law protections that are stronger than corresponding protections currently provided under Hawaii  law.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii civil rights commission to adopt administrative rules to define certain terms to conform state law protections against disability discrimination in employment to recently amended federal law.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 368, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§368-     Authority to define operative terms.  (a)  The commission, pursuant to its authority under section 368-3(9), shall adopt rules to define or amend, as applicable, the following terms for purposes of chapter 378 to bring conformity between state and federal statutory protections against disability discrimination in employment:

     (1)  "Major life activities";

     (2)  "Being regarded as having such an impairment";

     (3)  "Disability";

     (4)  "Substantially limits"; and

     (5)  Other operative terms.

     (b)  The commission shall apply, at a minimum, the definitions in the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act; provided that:

     (1)  The definition of "disability" under section 378-1 and the implementing administrative rules thereto shall be construed, at a minimum, to conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act; and

     (2)  Within one year from the effective date of any federal statutory revision to a relevant definition used in chapter 368, the commission shall adopt, amend, or repeal rules to reflect any amendments to state statutes that were required to conform to the federal statutory revisions."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2046.