STAND. COM. REP. NO. 517

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1115

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1115 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and fund two full-time equivalent (2.00 FTE) enforcement specialist IV permanent positions in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Disability Compensation Division (Division), to assist with the enforcement of Hawaii's workers' compensation, temporary disability insurance, and prepaid health care laws.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Human Resources, City and County of Honolulu; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaii Construction Alliance; Hawaii Insurers Council; and ILWU Local 142.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Division's primary objectives include ensuring the efficient processing of claims; the timely provision of medical services and payment of benefits to injured workers; employer compliance with workers' compensation, temporary disability insurance, and prepaid health care insurance coverage requirements; and monitoring health plans to ensure employees are provided with the benefits that are required under the prepaid health care law.  Your Committee further finds that the Division lost a number of employees between 2009 and 2012, including two enforcement specialist positions.  Your Committee finds that reinstatement and funding of these two positions will increase the efficiency of the Division in investigating delinquent employers failing to secure and provide workers' compensation, temporary disability insurance, and prepaid health care.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1115 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair