HI HCR44

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to convene a working group to design a paid family leave program for Hawaii.

Working group membership includes the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (chair), Director of Human Resources Development, Executive Director of Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, representatives from nonprofits (children's advocacy, workers' rights, economic justice), business groups, labor unions (teachers, government employees, hotel workers, iron workers), one House member, one Senate member, and other members as deemed necessary.

Working group is requested to analyze paid family leave programs in other states, develop a budget and implementation timeline with benchmarks, and consider costs for program establishment and sustainability.

Working group must submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2024 with findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation.

Resolution cites that 44% of Hawaii households fell below the ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) threshold in 2022, and that only 25% of U.S. civilian workers have access to employer-provided paid family leave.