Bill Text: HI SB1048 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 1048 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Sexual Harassment.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-04-24 - Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-25-19 2:00PM in conference room 423. [SB1048 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB1048-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1048
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 378, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§378- Confidentiality clauses; sexual harassment claims; unenforceable. Except as otherwise provided by federal law, a confidentiality clause in any agreement or contract relating to employment or executed in the course of employment is not enforceable as to a sexual harassment claim; provided that nothing in this section shall require any person to involuntarily disclose or disseminate information; provided further that nothing in this section shall prohibit the parties from entering into a confidentiality agreement as part of a legal settlement of a specific claim."

SECTION 2. Chapter 658A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§658A- Mandatory arbitration; sexual harassment claims; prohibited. Beginning July 1, 2019, except as otherwise provided by federal law, no agreement to arbitrate shall include language requiring arbitration of sexual harassment claims."

SECTION 3. Section 658A-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§658A-6[]] Validity of agreement to arbitrate. (a) [An] Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f), an agreement contained in a record to submit to arbitration any existing or subsequent controversy arising between the parties to the agreement is valid, enforceable, and irrevocable except upon a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract.

(b) The court shall decide whether an agreement to arbitrate exists or a controversy is subject to an agreement to arbitrate.

(c) An arbitrator shall decide whether a condition precedent to arbitrability has been fulfilled and whether a contract containing a valid agreement to arbitrate is enforceable.

(d) If a party to a judicial proceeding challenges the existence of, or claims that a controversy is not subject to, an agreement to arbitrate, the arbitration proceeding may continue pending final resolution of the issue by the court, unless the court otherwise orders.

(e) Except as otherwise provided by federal law, an agreement for mandatory arbitration is not enforceable as to a sexual harassment claim; provided that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the parties from voluntarily entering arbitration in regard to a specific claim.

(f) Except as otherwise provided by federal law, a confidentiality clause in an agreement to arbitrate is not enforceable as to a sexual harassment claim; provided that nothing in this subsection shall require any person to involuntarily disclose or disseminate information; provided further that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the parties from voluntarily entering into a confidentiality agreement as part of a legal settlement of a specific claim."

SECTION 4. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Agreements to Arbitrate; Confidentiality Clauses; Sexual Harassment; Ban

Description:

Makes confidentiality clauses in employment contracts unenforceable as to sexual harassment claims. Bans mandatory arbitration agreements as to sexual harassment claims. Makes mandatory confidentiality clauses in an arbitration agreement unenforceable as to sexual harassment claims. (SB1048 HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.