Bill > HB616

This bill establishes comprehensive protections for educational workers in Hawaii's Department of Education and public charter schools by creating new legal provisions to address workplace harassment. The bill defines "educational workers" broadly to include administrators, teachers, counselors, employees, volunteers, and contractors, and provides them with several key protections: they cannot be required to work under harassment conditions, can report harassment to their supervisors, and are entitled to paid leave to attend court proceedings related to obtaining protection from harassment. The legislation requires both the Department of Education and public charter schools to conduct formal investigations of all reported harassment incidents, report potentially dangerous incidents to law enforcement within 48 hours, develop written emergency safety plans, implement annual de-escalation and harassment management training, and assist educational workers with legal actions related to harassment. Specifically, schools must provide these procedures annually to employees and post them on their websites, and they will reimburse workers for costs associated with serving temporary restraining orders (but not attorney's fees). The bill aims to create a secure and supportive work environment for educational workers by providing clear mechanisms for addressing and preventing harassment based on their professional roles.

Budget and Finance, Education, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=616&year=2026