STAND. COM. REP. NO.  172-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2544

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2544 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to grant a presumption to firefighters or volunteer firefighters that cancer arose out of the course and scope of their employment, provided there is evidence of exposure to a known carcinogen while performing services for their employers.

 

     The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to further continued discussion on this measure; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2544, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2544, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair