Hawaii House Bill HB1005

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/21
• Refer: 1/29/21

Caption

Relating To Employment Security.

Impact

The legislation is intended to streamline the process by which individuals can claim unemployment benefits, especially in the wake of economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also standardizes the procedures for filing partial claims, aligning them with total unemployment benefits claims. This could offer greater accessibility for workers facing partial unemployment, potentially easing the process of receiving necessary financial support during uncertain economic times.

Summary

House Bill 1005 addresses critical amendments to employment security regulations in the state of Hawaii. Specifically, it updates definitions related to the 'benefit year' and 'week' in the context of unemployment benefits. By redefining a 'benefit year' as a period of fifty-two consecutive weeks, the bill aims to simplify the filing process for individuals seeking unemployment benefits. The bill also allows for a benefit year to extend to fifty-three weeks under specific conditions pertaining to overlapping claims, thereby providing a clearer structure for applicants.

Contention

One of the notable aspects of HB 1005 includes provisions that permit the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to exclude certain charged benefits from employers' experience ratings, specifically for the years 2021 and 2022. This adjustment is designed to mitigate the financial burden on employers affected by the pandemic. However, this provision could lead to debates around fairness in how benefits are assessed against employer contributions during this crisis, raising concerns among those advocating for a more equitable approach to employment security in Hawaii.