HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1489

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

 

 

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

 

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et. seq.), renamed the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in 2002, has had an enormous impact in reducing discrimination on the basis of sex in programs receiving federal funding.  Here in Hawaii, the generation that followed Congresswoman Mink has taken pride in fostering diversity and equality: in the classroom, on the sports field, and in the workplace.  Hawaii is a place where all are welcome and all are given the opportunity to succeed.  Yet notwithstanding the gains made over the last four and a half decades, sex discrimination persists; indeed, recent public rhetoric demonstrates that the dream of true equality requires continued commitment at all levels of government.  While the federal government's faithfulness to the principles of equality may ebb and flow with changing administrations, the legislature seeks to guarantee Hawaii's dedication to the principles articulated in Title IX.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to ensure that the protections that have been articulated in Title IX and its attendant regulations continue here in Hawaii, notwithstanding changes in federal administrations, and that Hawaii continues to be a nationwide leader in promoting equality and opportunity.

     SECTION 2.  Section 368-1.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§368-1.5  Programs and activities receiving state financial assistance.  (a)  No otherwise qualified individual in the State shall, [solely] by reason of [his or her] disability, sex, including gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any state [agencies,] agency, or under any                                   EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS
                                          HONOLULU




  DAVID Y. IGE
    GOVERNOR




                                        July 5, 2018       GOVe MSG. NO& f 'l I (
The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi,                   The Honorable Scott K. Saiki,
  President                                         Speaker and Members of the
  and Members of the Senate                         House of Representatives
Twenty-Ninth State Legislature                    Twenty-Ninth State Legislature
State Capitol, Room 409                           State Capitol, Room 431
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813                           Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813



Dear President Kouchi, Speaker Saiki, and Members of the Legislature:

This is to inform you that on July 5, 2018, the following bill was signed into law:

HB1489 HD1 SD2 CD1                    RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS
                                      ACT 110 (18)



                                              Sincerely,




                                              DAVIDY. IGE
                                              Governor, State of Hawai'i
     AJ>J>roved by the Governor                                               ORIGINAL
     on             JUL O 2018
                         5                                    .                                ACT 110
     HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                                                                                      1489
     TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
     STATE OF HAWAII
                                                                                               H.B. NO.            H.D.1
                                                                                                                   S.D. 2
                                                                                                                   C.D.1


                                          A BILL FOR AN ACT
     RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.


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

1                                                                                     PART I

2                 SECTION 1.                      The legislature finds that Title IX of the

3    Education Amendment of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.)                                                        (Title

4    IX), renamed the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act

5    in 2002, triggered a seismic shift in the education landscape by

6    prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex by any education

7  
 program orof activity receiving state financial assistance.

     (b)  As used in this section, the [term "disability" means the state of having a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, having a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment.] terms "disability", "sex", "gender identity or expression", and "sexual orientation" shall have the same meanings as those terms are defined in section 378-1.

     (c)  As used in this section, "state financial assistance" [means] shall be broadly construed and shall mean grants, purchase-of-service contracts, or any other arrangement by which the State provides or otherwise makes available assistance in the form of funds to an entity for the purpose of rendering services on behalf of the State.  It does not include procurement contracts, state insurance or guaranty contracts, licenses, tax credits, or loan guarantees to private businesses of general concern that do not render services on behalf of the State."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 


 

Report federal funds.                                                    The legislature

 8   also finds that Hawaii is rightfully proud of Patsy Mink's

 9   signature legislation, which has given millions of girls and

10   women educational opportunities that were undreamed of before

11   enactment of Title IX, in the classroom and on playing fields;

12   in research, teaching, and graduate schools; and in employment,

13   medicine, law, and other professions.                                                     The legislature

14   recognizes, however, that Patsy Mink's celebrated legacy has not

15   been fully realized, and that the efficacy of
Title:

Discrimination; Sex; Gender Identity or Expression; Sexual Orientation

 

Description:

Prohibits a state agency or program or activity receiving state financial assistance from excluding from participation, denying benefits to, or discriminating against a qualified individual by reason of disability, sex, including gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.

 

 

 

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

  IX federal

16   protections against sex discrimination in education has been

17   diminished and eroded.                                          For these reasons, the legislature


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1    believes it is time to consider and address the need for a

2    corollary to Title IX in state law.

3                    Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

4                     (1)              Provide for a state corollary to Title IX that

5                                      prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex,

6                                      including gender identity or expression, or sexual

7                                      orientation, in any state educational program or

8                                      activity, or in any educational program or activity

 9                                      that receives state financial assistance, without

10                                      regard to whether the educational program or activity

11                                      also receives federal funds; and

12                     (2)             Direct the legislative reference bureau to conduct a

13                                      study of existing Title IX procedures on the federal

14                                      level and in other jurisdictions and recommend

15                                      proposed legislation.

16                                                                                                         PART II

17                    SECTION 2.                                 The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by

18   adding a new chapter to title 20 to be appropriately designated

19   and to read as follows:

20                                                                                                        "CHAPTER

21             DISCRIMINATION IN STATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES



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1                  §           -1         State educational programs and activities;

2    discrimination prohibited.                                                        (a)    No person in the State, on the

3    basis of sex, including gender identity or expression as defined

4    in section 489-2, or sexual orientation as defined in section

5    489-2, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the

6    benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under:

7                  (1)           Any state educational program or activity; or

8                  (2)           Any educational program or activity that receives

9                                 state financial assistance.

10                  (b)          Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a student

11   participating in any educational program or activity who is

12   aggrieved by a violation of this chapter from filing a civil

13   action in a court of competent jurisdiction.

14                  (c)           A person, or an organization or association on behalf

15   of a person alleging a violation of this chapter may file a

16   complaint pursuant to this chapter.

17                  (d)           As used in this section:

18                  "Educational program or activity that receives state

19   financial assistance" means any educational program or activity

20   that receives state financial assistance, in any amount, for any




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 1   purpose.                        The term does not exclude an educational program or

2    activity that also receives federal funds.

3                    "State educational program or activity" means an

 4   educational program or activity of the University of Hawaii, the

5    . department of education, or public charter schools."

6                                                                                                PART III

 7                   SECTION 3.                             The legislative reference bureau shall conduct

8    a study of existing Title IX enforcement practices and

 9   procedures on the federal level and in other jurisdictions,

10   including the following:

11                   (1)             A detailed review of enforcement entities responsible

12                                   for overseeing the investigation and adjudication of

13                                   complaints under Title IX and related state laws

14                                   prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex;

15                    (2)            An        examination of issues related to service and

16                                   standing for bringing applicable complaints;

17                    (3)            A review of the various remedies for violations that

18                                   may be available to an aggrieved party, including

19                                   alternative dispute resolution, injunctive relief, and

20                                   civil damages; and




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1                     (4)             An examination of any potential inconsistencies

2                                     between multiple state ~nd federal compliance mandates

3                                     and regulatory schemes.

4                    No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the

5    regular session of 2019, the legislative reference bu~eau shall

6    submit a report to the legislature with findings and

7    recormnendations on the foregoing issues, including proposed

8    legislation concerning an appropriate enforcement mechanism for

 9   chapter                                     , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

10                                                                                                      PART IV

11                    SECTION 4.                              This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2020;

12   provided that part III shall take effect on July 1, 2018.




                                   APPROVED this                                             O day of
                                                                                              5                        'i   2018


                                                                      ~Jj~
                                                   GOVERNOR O~TATE OF HAWAII




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                                                           HB No. 1489, HD 1, SD 2, CD 1

           THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF HAWAII

                                                           Date: May 1, 2018
                                                           Honolulu, Hawaii


       We hereby certify that the above-referenced Bill on this day passed Final Reading in the

House of Representatives of the Twenty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular

Session of 2018.




                                                           Scott K. Saiki
                                                           Speaker
                                                           House of Representatives



                                                           Brian L. Takeshita
                                                           Chief Clerk
                                                           House of Representatives
                                                    H.B. No. 1489, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1


           THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF HAWAl'I
                                                            Date: May 1, 2018
                                                            Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

       We hereby certify that the foregoing Bill this day passed Final Reading in the

Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawai 'i, Regular Session of 2018.


                                              ~//~/~·
                                                  ~f
                                             President of the



                                             Clerk of the Senate