STAND. COM. REP. NO.362

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 1353

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1353 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide criteria for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (Director) to consider when approving attorney's fees in workers' compensation cases.

ILWU Local 142 submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), the Hawaii Employers' Mutual Insurance Company, Inc., Argonaut Insurance Company, and the Building Industry Association of Hawaii opposed this bill.

Your Committee finds that the Director should be permitted to consider additional factors more consistent with civil litigation attorneys' fees when assessing attorneys' fees in workers' compensation cases. This bill will ensure that injured workers also receive competent legal representation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1353 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection and Commerce and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

 

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

____________________________

TERRY NUI YOSHINAGA, Chair