STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3749
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 2054
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2054, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit an employer from:
(1) Requiring an employee to enter into, as a condition of employment, a nondisclosure agreement that prevents the employee from disclosing or discussing sexual harassment or sexual assault occurring in the workplace, at work-related events, between employees, or between an employer and an employee; and
(2) Retaliating against an employee for disclosing or discussing sexual harassment or sexual assault.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Harm Reduction Hawaii, Pride at Work – Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawai‘i Women Lawyers, and nine individuals.
Your Committee finds that nondisclosure
agreements that prevent disclosure of sexual assault and sexual harassment as a
condition of employment silence victims of sexual harassment, sometimes
allowing harassers to continue sexual harassment of other employees. There is also a concern that nondisclosure agreements enable
repeat offenders to engage in a pattern of sexual harassment. Your Committee further finds that many victims of sexual assault
and harassment do not report it because of fear of retaliation. This measure will help end the silencing of victims by
banning nondisclosure agreements that prevent disclosure of sexual assault and
harassment and prohibiting employers from retaliating against an employee for
disclosing sexual harassment and assault.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2054, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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