Bill > HB1268

This bill expands family leave provisions in Hawaii to include domestic partners and their children, establishing a comprehensive set of criteria for defining a domestic partnership. Under the proposed legislation, a domestic partner is defined as an individual who lives in a spouse-like relationship with an employee, intends to remain together indefinitely, shares a common residence, agrees to be jointly responsible for basic living expenses, is not married to anyone else, is at least 18 years old, and has not entered the partnership through force or fraud. The bill requires employees to submit a notarized declaration of domestic partnership when seeking leave. Specifically, the legislation amends existing law to allow employees to take up to four weeks of family leave per calendar year to care for a domestic partner or the domestic partner's child with a serious health condition, mirroring existing leave provisions for spouses, children, and other family members. The bill, known as the Partner Leave Equality Act, acknowledges that many committed couples are not legally married and seeks to provide equitable family leave benefits regardless of gender or marital status. The new provisions will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving employers and employees time to prepare for the expanded leave options.

Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1268&year=2025