Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1867, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the health and well-being of injured workers when there is a dispute between the injured employee and the employer or insurance carrier as to whether medical services should be continued, by allowing an injured employee to continue to receive medical services until the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (Director) issues a decision on the matter.

The Hawaii Nurses Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association, ILWU Local 142, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Hawaii Government Employees Association and a concerned individual supported this measure with an amendment. The Hawaii State Chiropractic Association and Hawaii State AFL-CIO supported the intent of this bill. The Department of Human Resources Development, Hawaii Insurers Council, and Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association opposed this measure. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Employers' Mutual Insurance Company, Inc., International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260, IBEW Local 1357, and a concerned individual offered comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1867, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.