Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1013, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expedite resolution of workers' compensation permanent impairment determinations by requiring the employer and employee to mutually agree upon the impairment examiner. In cases where the employer and employee do not agree, the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations would appoint an examiner from a list of qualified examiners.

The ILWU Local 142 and Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii testified in support of this measure. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Insurers Council, Academy of Independent Medical Examiners of Hawaii, and an individual opposed this measure.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, 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. 1013, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1013, H.D. 3.