Repeals the definition of "day" or "days" under the State's workers' compensation law. Effective date July 1, 2006. (HB2211 CD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, when it enacted Act 11, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, the implementation of that Act had the unintended consequence of prolonging certain processes of the workers' compensation law. For example, with the adoption of the department of labor and industrial relations' definition of the terms "day" or "days" under section 1 of Act 11, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, the law now defines these terms to mean working days, as opposed to calendar days. For injured workers waiting for payment of a claim or a decision on a contested claim, the change from calendar days to business days often unnecessarily prolongs the workers' compensation process and, in some cases, requires the injured employee to wait longer for treatment of a work-related injury.

The purpose of this Act is to repeal the definition of the terms "day" or "days" in the State's workers' compensation law.

SECTION 2. Section 386-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by repealing the definition of "day" or "days".

[""Day" or "days" means working days, unless otherwise provided."]

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.