STAND. COM. REP. NO.  596

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 922

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 922, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL BENEFITS UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the efficiency of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in resolving disputes relating to treatment plans and continued medical services in workers' compensation cases.

 

More specifically, this measure authorizes the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to make a decision on these disputes without a hearing, provided that both parties consent.

 

     The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; ILWU Local 142; and UPW, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO, submitted testimony in support of the measure.  Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. submitted comments on the measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure would greatly increase the efficiency of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and allow injured workers, insurance carriers, and employers to receive more prompt decisions as to whether medical services will continue or whether a treatment plan will be approved or denied.

 

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the consent of both parties must be mutual; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 922, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 922, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair