STAND. COM. REP. 2694

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2941

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2941 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE STATE WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation of $3,055,896 for fiscal year 2003-2004 to the Department of Human Resources Development for the payment of workers' compensation claims.

Your Committee finds that due to a variety of factors, including the increase in the cost-of-living allowance for claimants receiving total disability benefits, the increase in the fees as prescribed in the amended Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Schedule, and the annual increase in the weekly compensation rate, the sums appropriated to the Department through the General Appropriation Act of 2003 are insufficient for the Department to be able to meet its obligations under the workers' compensation law. The amount appropriated under this measure is necessary to meet the budgeted shortfall.

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 S.B. No. 2941 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair