Bill > HB2360

This bill establishes a paid family and medical leave insurance program in Hawaii, requiring the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) to set up the program by January 1, 2029, and begin collecting payroll contributions to fund it, with benefit claims and payments starting by January 1, 2030. The program will provide benefits for various family and medical reasons, including caring for a new child, a family member with a serious health condition, or a qualifying service member, as well as for victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault, and for qualifying exigencies related to military service. Covered individuals must meet specific work and wage requirements, and the bill defines terms like "benefit year," "covered individual," "family member," and "serious health condition." It also outlines benefit durations, amounts calculated based on a percentage of the employee's average weekly wage, and requires employers and employees to contribute to the program, with specific remittance rules for different employer sizes and options for self-employed individuals and public employees to elect coverage. Importantly, benefits received under this program will be excluded from state income tax, and the bill includes provisions for job protection during leave, continuation of health benefits, and prohibitions against retaliatory personnel actions by employers. The DLIR is tasked with creating procedures for claims, appeals, and public education campaigns, and the bill appropriates funds for the program's establishment and operation, with a loan from the general fund to cover initial start-up costs.