HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2007

COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION & COMMERCE

Rep. Robert N. Herkes, Chair

Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey, Vice Chair

Rep. Kirk Caldwell	Rep. Joseph M. Souki
Rep. Cindy Evans	Rep. Clift Tsuji
Rep. Josh Green, M.D.	Rep. Ryan I. Yamane
Rep. Ken Ito	Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita
Rep. Sylvia Luke	Rep. Barbara C. Marumoto
Rep. Hermina M. Morita	Rep. Cynthia Thielen
Rep. Alex M. Sonson

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:	Wednesday, March 21, 2007
TIME:	2:00 pm
PLACE:	Conference Room 325 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

SB 1060 SD1, HD1 (HSCR1251)	RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW. Amends workers' compensation law, including limiting an employer's ability to terminate benefits, authorizing the recovery of attorney's fees and costs by the injured employee, specifying procedures for medical examinations by the employer's physician, establishing fines for violations, requiring the reporting of denials of claims and relevant information, and further restricting the director of labor and industrial relations' rulemaking authority. (SB1060 HD1)	LAB, CPC, FIN
SB 12 SD2, HD1 (HSCR1261)	RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE RATE REGULATION. Prohibits health insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.  Requires health care insurers to submit rate filings for approval by the insurance commissioner.  Establishes penalties and appeal procedures.  (SB12 HD1)	HLT, CPC, FIN
SB 53 (HSCR1226)	RELATING TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS. Includes marriage and family therapy among the mental illness and alcohol and drug dependence benefits required within the hospital and medical coverage offered under accident and sickness insurance policies and similar insurance products.	HLT, CPC, FIN
SB 600 (HSCR1222)	RELATING TO LEASEHOLD CONVERSION. Exempts from taxation 100% of capital gains realized during taxable years 2008-2012 from sale of leased fee interest in condominium units to association of apartment owners or residential cooperative corporations.	HSH, CPC, FIN
SB 1400 SD2, HD1 (HSCR1271)	RELATING TO FINANCIAL ABUSE. Requires financial institutions to report suspected instances of financial abuse directed towards, targeting, or committed against an elder to a local law enforcement agency or the department of human services.  (SB1400 HD1)	HSH, CPC, JUD
SB 1678 SD2, HD1 (HSCR1246)	RELATING TO MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT. Requires health care plans to reimburse health care providers 100% of the medicaid or medicare reimbursement rate in effect for the current year and updated for each calendar year thereafter.  Appropriates $      .  (HD1)	HSH/HLT, CPC, FIN

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 45 COPIES OF THEIR TESTIMONY AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO:  (1)  THE  COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 315, STATE CAPITOL, OR (2)  THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS TESTIMONY DROP OFF BOX IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT.  TESTIMONY MAY ALSO BE FAXED IF LESS THAN 5 PAGES IN LENGTH TO THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT:  586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS).  WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING, AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT IS NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586‑6172.

IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OR AUXILIARY AIDS AND/OR SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE STATE HOUSE (I.E., SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING DESIGNATED FOR THE DISABLED), PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING SO ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.  PROMPT REQUESTS SUBMITTED HELP TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS.

SELECTED HEARINGS ARE BROADCAST  LIVE.  CHECK THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE BROADCAST SCHEDULE ON THE "CAPITOL TV" WEB SITE AT WWW.CAPITOLTV.ORG OR CALL 550-8074 FOR A LISTING.

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Rep. Robert N. Herkes

Chair