HB1068 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Education Healthcare Labor

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify whether coverage extends beyond unpaid internships or includes programs sponsored by the University of Hawaii.

Expanding Workers' Compensation Coverage for Recent High School Graduates

This bill allows recent high school graduates to receive workers' compensation coverage during the summer after graduation while participating in work-based learning programs sponsored by the Department of Education.

What This Bill Does

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during their participation in DOE-sponsored work-based learning programs during the summer following their graduation.

Who It Names or Affects

Recent high school graduates participating in DOE-sponsored work-based learning programs.
Private and public employers who host these students as part of their internship programs.

Terms To Know

Work-based Learning Programs: Programs that provide opportunities for high school students to gain real-world experience through internships or other work-related activities.
Workers' Compensation Coverage: Insurance provided by employers to cover medical expenses and lost wages if an employee is injured at work.

Limits and Unknowns

Coverage ends on July 31 of the year following a student's high school graduation.
The bill does not specify what happens after this date or for students who do not participate in approved programs.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to LAB, EDN, FIN, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
DOE; Workers' Compensation; Work-based Internships
Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in work-based learning programs established and regulated by the Department of Education.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1068

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1068

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that a main goal of the department of education's State of Hawaii
public education 2023-2029 strategic plan is to have "all students
graduate high school prepared for college and career success and community and
civic engagement."
�
As part of this
goal, an action item in the strategic plan includes "expand[ing] students'
opportunities for structured work-based learning experiences, including
internships for high school students, through partnerships with employers,
community partners, military and higher education institutions."

����
To achieve the goals set forth in the
strategic plan, the department of education is actively pursuing internships
for students, including graduating high school students.
�
However, the department finds that once students
graduate from high school, they are no longer considered a student and are not
covered for workers' compensation while they are participating in a
department-sponsored work-based learning opportunity during the summer
following graduation.

����
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to
allow newly graduated former students to be eligible for workers' compensation
coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while
participating in work-based learning programs sponsored by the department of
education.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Section 302A-430, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�302A-430
�
Coverage for workers' compensation.
�
Whenever a student
or a new high school
graduate
participating in a school-approved work-based learning program
sponsored by the department [
of education
] or
a student participating
in a school-approved work-based learning program sponsored by
the [
University
]

university
of Hawaii undertakes to perform work for a private or public
employer as part of the student's
or new high school graduate's

work-based learning program, whether paid or unpaid, the State shall be deemed
to be the responsible employer for the purposes of workers' compensation
coverage[
,
]
; provided that no coverage under this section shall be
provided beyond July 31 of the student's or the new high school graduate's high
school graduation year, and
that
coverage
shall be the student's
or
the new high school graduate's
exclusive remedy to the same extent as
provided for in chapter 386 as against the State and the private employer
participating in the program."

����
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:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

DOE;
Workers' Compensation; Work-based Internships

Description:

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible
for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high
school graduation while participating in work-based learning programs
established and regulated by the Department of Education.

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