Allows charter school employees to participate in the State's workers' compensation system.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds the that State operates a self-insured workers' compensation system where claims are investigated and processed by state workers. These claims are then paid from legislative appropriations. Meanwhile, public schools are not required to reduce their operational funds to pay for workers' compensation benefit claims for state workers at their schools. Charter school employees deserve the right to participate in this same system as public employees without having the funding for this coverage come from charter school operational funds.

The purpose of this Act is to allow charter school employees to participate in the State's workers' compensation system, provided that the charter schools shall be responsible for compiling the preliminary claim form and forwarding it to the appropriate office.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   New century charter schools; employee benefits. The State shall ensure that employees of new century charter schools are covered by the same self-insured workers' compensation system offered to other public employees and administrative state units, including the processing, investigation, and payment of claims; provided that new century charter schools shall be responsible for compiling the preliminary claim form and forwarding it to the appropriate office within the department."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.