Prohibits time limits for vocational rehabilitation plans under workers' compensation. Authorizes the use of self-employment plans as vocational rehabilitation plans.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Section 386-25, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The purposes of vocational rehabilitation are to restore an injured worker's earning capacity as nearly as possible to that level which the worker was earning at the time of injury and to return the injured worker to suitable work in the active labor force as quickly as possible in a cost-effective manner. There shall be no time limit on vocational rehabilitation; provided that in determining whether a plan is acceptable, the director may consider factors such as time, cost, and probable effectiveness of the plan. A self-employment plan may be allowed in cases where the employee specifically agrees that, upon completion of a self-employment plan, the employee accepts the self-employment as a return to suitable and gainful employment."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.