HCR 156 Summary

• Requests Hawaii establish and implement a paid family leave program for all workers by 2025.

• Establishes the goal of creating a program funded through a social insurance system with employee and/or employer contributions to a dedicated insurance fund, modeled after programs in 8 other states and the District of Columbia.

• Cites that 42% of private sector employees in Hawaii lack access to any paid leave, and existing state law only provides 4 weeks of unpaid leave to employees of large employers (100+ employees), leaving 40% of the workforce uncovered.

• Highlights potential benefits including increased health outcomes for children and mothers, improved employee retention and productivity, increased elderly care support, greater gender equity, and reduced public assistance dependence.

• Directs transmission of the resolution to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Director of the Department of Human Services, and Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.