Bill Text: HI HB332 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Employment Security; Divestiture; Worker Retention

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-4)

Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB332 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB332-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1192

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 332

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Labor and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 332, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish eligibility for unemployment insurance for persons separated from employment as a result of domestic or sexual violence.

 

     While the original purpose of this measure is important, your Committees find that as a result of the current economic recession, businesses in Hawaii are facing unprecedented challenges that will likely result in some companies being sold.  To minimize detrimental effects to the State's economy and its citizens, steps must be taken now to promote seamless transfers with minimum disruption to business productivity and employment security. Accordingly, your Committees replaced the contents of this measure with new language establishing job security and other requirements upon the divestiture of a covered business establishment.

 

     Testimony in support of the proposed draft was submitted by two organizations.  Testimony in opposition to the proposed the proposed draft was submitted by one state agency and six organizations.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     As amended by your Committees, this measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes worker retention requirements and consequences for violations of these requirements;

 

     (2)  Clarifies when a successor employer may retain less than one hundred per cent of the former employer's incumbent employees;

 

     (3)  Clarifies that the measure shall not be construed to abrogate an employer's right to manage the employer's employees; and

 

     (4)  Has an effective date of July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion of this measure.

 

     In response to express concern regarding potential unintended consequences of the proposed draft, your Committees note that the proposed draft does not amend the definition of "covered establishment" in section 394B-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, thereby limiting the industrial, commercial, and other business entities subject to the requirements of this proposed draft to entities with fifty or more employees.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 332, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 332, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Human Services,

 

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair		____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair