STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3459
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 1867
H.D. 1
S.D. 2
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2006
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1867, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require an employer in a dispute with an employee over medical services to continue to provide those medical services until the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations decides to discontinue those services.
Furthermore, this measure requires an employer who has determined that an employee is able to resume work to continue to provide temporary total disability benefits to the employee until a decision by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations terminates the benefits.
Your Committee finds that corrective action is warranted to check the employer's unilateral power to disrupt the flow of medical care and temporary total disability benefits to injured workers. The disruption is counterproductive and a serious impediment to cost-effective treatment and recovery.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050 to promote continued discussion of the matter. Your Committee has also made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1867, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1867, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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