STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3419

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 86

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 86, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A PAID FAMILY LEAVE TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF A POTENTIAL PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM IN HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the formation of a paid family leave task force to examine the benefits and costs of a potential paid family leave program in the State.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, ILWU Local 142, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii Women's Caucus, Hawaii Children's Action Network, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Family Leave Law only applies to approximately 2.2 per cent of employers in the State.  The majority of the State's citizens are not financially stable enough to take unpaid leave to provide care for newborns or family members with serious medical conditions.  Your Committee believes that establishing a paid family leave program in the State could significantly enhance the quality of life in the State and decrease the gender pay gap.  Your Committee recognizes that more information must be collected and analyzed before a state paid family leave program is established, and your Committee believes that a temporary task force can provide this type of information.

 

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 86, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair