HB 166 Summary

• Establishes a paid family leave program for Hawaii state and county employees effective January 1, 2024.

• Qualified employees (those with at least 1,250 hours of service over 12 months) are entitled to 12 weeks of paid leave within a 12-month period for birth, adoption/foster placement of a child, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

• Employees must agree in writing to work for the employer for at least 12 weeks after returning from paid family leave, unless unable to return due to serious health conditions or circumstances beyond their control.

• Employers may require medical certification for leave taken to care for family members with serious health conditions and may recover government health insurance contributions if an employee fails to return without valid cause.

• Employees on paid family leave continue health insurance coverage while maintaining employee contribution payments, and returning employees are restored to their original or equivalent position with equivalent pay and benefits.