S.B. 2102 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 387-12 to establish employer liability for wage discrimination under Section 387-4, making employers liable for the difference in wages paid to affected employees.

• Provides treble damages (triple the wage difference) in cases of sex-based wage discrimination, in addition to the wage difference owed.

• Allows employees or the director to bring civil lawsuits to recover discriminatory wage differences, with prevailing plaintiffs entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs from the employer.

• Extends the director's authority to pursue wage discrimination claims through assignment and legal action, and permits the director to join multiple claimants against the same employer in a single action.

• Takes effect upon approval; does not affect rights or penalties that accrued before the Act's effective date.