HI SR187

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is urged to convene a working group to explore and propose ways to incentivize women entrepreneurship in Hawaii.

Working group co-chairs shall be the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Executive Director of the Hawaii State Commission on Status of Women, with community representatives invited including Women's Fund of Hawaii, educational organizations, accelerators, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and community development financial institutions.

Working group shall address the gender pay gap in Hawaii and assess capital and financial resources available to women entrepreneurs, including potential state funding options.

Working group members shall serve without compensation and must submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by December 1, 2020.

Women in Hawaii currently earn 81.6 cents per dollar compared to men, resulting in an estimated combined annual loss of over $2.5 billion for full-time employed women in the state.