STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2707

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2942

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Technology and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2942 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow minors under the age of sixteen to work in theatrical employment provided that 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 an infant on set who is under the age one;

(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; and

(4) Define "nurse" and "studio teacher".

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, IATSE Local 665, SAG-AFTRA, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Motion Picture Association, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Pride at Work-Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Nurses' Association OPEIU Local 50, and twenty-seven individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that there is currently no law requiring a nurse or studio teacher to be on set each day minors are employed in theatrical employment. Your Committees also find that current agreements between studios and SAG-AFTRA only require a studio teacher to be on set every three consecutive days, creating an exploitable loophole which can be scheduled around. A film set is a fast paced and dangerous place, especially for a minor and their guardians who may not have experience with such environments. This measure offers these individuals greater rights and protections within this environment.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Technology and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2942, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2942, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Technology and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair