Laserfiche WebLink
Page 2 . B . NON <br />1 are affected disproportionately by the unavailability of paid <br />2 family and medical leave. According to the Hawaii Children's <br />3 Action Network, paid family leave is associated with a 20 per <br />4 cent decrease in infant mortality. <br />5 Hawaii has the fastest growing population of individuals <br />6 over the age of sixty-five in the nation, and that number is <br />7 expected to grow even further by the year 2030. Of those who <br />8 would benefit from paid family leave, nearly one-third would <br />9 take those leave benefits to care for an ill spouse or elderly <br />10 parent. In short, most workers, at some point, will need to take <br />11 time off to care for an ill or aging family member, the majority <br />12 of which are women, but very few can afford it. <br />13 The legislature further finds that providing these benefits <br />14 to state and county employees could enhance recruitment and <br />15 retention of employees, fulfill the government's role as a model <br />16 employer, significantly impact the bonding between a newborn, <br />17 adopted, or new foster child and its parent, and reduce stress <br />18 and the negative impacts of not guaranteeing parental and family <br />19 paid leave to mothers and low-income and economically <br />20 disadvantaged employees and their children or elderly or sick <br />21 loved ones. <br />23-183d <br />