STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1897

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.C.R. No. 5

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 5 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO AMEND FEDERAL LAW TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE FORCED INTO ARBITRATION AND SILENCE INSTEAD HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the members of the United States Congress to amend federal law to ensure that victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault who might otherwise be forced into arbitration and silenced instead have access to the courts.

The Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Rainbow Family 808, Hawai‘i Women Lawyers, and two individuals testified in support of this measure. An individual testified in opposition to this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 5 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair