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. 2695 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve the workers' compensation system by requiring the Hawaii Employers' Mutual Insurance Company (HEMIC) to provide a workers' compensation plan that uses a coordinated system of care model to provide medical and rehabilitation services to injured employees.

ILWU Local 142 and Kaiser Permanente testified in support of this bill. HEMIC supported the intent of this measure. The Hawaii Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association and a concerned individual opposed this measure. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations 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. 2695 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.