Bill > SB716

This bill modifies Hawaii's Employment Security Law in several key ways. It expands the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' ability to waive work registration requirements for unemployment benefits, allowing individuals to register for work by providing information to facilitate job search efforts instead of posting details online. The bill adds new categories of workers who can be exempt from work registration, including union members, workers involved in labor disputes, and those suspended from work. Beginning April 1, 2027, the bill mandates that notices and appeal documentation be sent electronically by default, with an option for recipients to choose mail delivery. The legislation allows individuals to change their tax withholding status more than once during a benefit year and repeals the requirement for individuals to post their work availability online. Additionally, the bill removes the statutory provision for joint experience rating among employers. These changes are intended to modernize the state's unemployment system, provide more flexibility for workers, and streamline administrative processes for both the department and claimants.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=716&year=2026