Bill > SB716

This bill modifies Hawaii's Employment Security Law by making several key changes to unemployment benefits administration. It expands the circumstances under which the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations can waive work registration requirements, including for partially unemployed individuals, union members, individuals involved in labor disputes, and those suspended from work. The bill changes the definition of "registered for work" from requiring detailed online job posting to simply providing information to facilitate work search efforts. Starting April 1, 2027, the bill mandates that notices of determinations and appeal documentation be sent electronically by default, though individuals can elect to receive mail notices. The legislation allows individuals to change their tax withholding status more than once during a benefit year, removes the requirement for individuals to post their work availability online, and repeals the statutory provision for joint experience rating among employers. These changes aim to modernize and simplify the unemployment benefits process, making it more flexible for both claimants and the department, while updating communication methods to align with current technological practices.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=716&year=2025