STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1255-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2942

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2942, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF A MINOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Allow minors under the age of sixteen to work in theatrical employment if the employer procures a valid certificate of employment and the minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a certain responsible adult;

(2) Require a nurse certified in basic life support to accompany, supervise, and advocate on behalf of a minor who is under the age of one; and

(3) Require a studio teacher to accompany, teach, and attend to the well-being of minors who have attained the age of five years and are required to but have been excused from attending school.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Pride at Work - Hawaiʻi; IATSE Local 665; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; SAG-AFTRA Hawaii Local; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that there is currently no law requiring a nurse or set teacher to be on the film set each day that a minor is employed in theatrical employment. While a set teacher is required to be on the film set every three consecutive days, some production companies have intentionally scheduled a minor's work in such a way as to avoid having a set teacher on set at all. This measure recognizes the importance of ensuring safe working conditions for children, as well as ensuring that their educational opportunities are protected while working on these types of productions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing references to "studio teacher" with "set teacher";

(2) Specifying that a set teacher is required on set if a minor is on set for three or more consecutive days;

(3) Deleting language that would have required a set teacher to accompany and attend to the health, safety, and well-being of a minor on set;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2942, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2942, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair