STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3478

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2715

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2715, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to contract with an experienced actuarial firm to perform a study on closed claims in the State's workers' compensation system.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Hawaii Insurers Council.

 

     Your Committee finds that although workers' compensation premiums in Hawaii have dropped significantly since the reforms in the mid-1990s, legislation is introduced every year alleging unfair treatment of injured workers, including the untimely processing of workers' compensation claims.  Your Committee believes that a closed claims study that objectively reviews the necessity of specific statutory changes is warranted.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requesting a general fund appropriation of $250,000 for the purposes of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2715, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair