HB490 - Family Leave Bill Summary

• Establishes a paid family leave program providing up to 8 weeks of paid leave during the first year after birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child, and 8 weeks of paid leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition during any benefit year.

• Integrates family leave benefits into Hawaii's existing temporary disability insurance system under Chapter 392, funded through employer-based private insurance and employee contributions of up to 0.5% of weekly wages.

• Exempts private employers with fewer than 200 employees from mandatory family leave coverage, though they may voluntarily participate.

• Defines eligible family members as spouse, reciprocal beneficiary, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild; requires medical certification of serious health conditions.

• Repeals Chapter 398 (relating to sick leave) and appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for program implementation; sections 1-28 effective July 1, 2025.