HB2018

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2018
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the creation of a workers' compensation advisory council is necessary to maintain the overall stability of the workers' compensation system without regard to partisan changes in the legislative or executive branches of government. The council will provide a vehicle for labor and management representatives to play a direct role in recommending changes in the workers' compensation law to the legislature.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a workers' compensation advisory council in the department of labor and industrial relations.

SECTION 2. Chapter 386, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§386- Council on workers' compensation. (a) There is created in the department the council on workers' compensation, which shall advise the department in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The council shall submit its recommendations with respect to amendments to this chapter to each regular session of the legislature and shall report its views upon any pending legislation relating to this chapter to the proper legislative committee. At the request of the chairpersons of the senate and house committees having oversight on labor matters, the department shall schedule a meeting of the council with the members of those senate and house committees to review and discuss matters of legislative concern arising under this chapter.

(b) The council shall consist of eleven voting members and three nonvoting members. The director or the director's designee, shall be a voting member and shall serve as chairperson. The director shall appoint the ten other voting members, who shall serve four-year terms and shall be comprised as follows:

(1) Five members shall represent employers; and

(2) Five members shall represent employees.

The director shall also appoint three nonvoting members, who shall serve four-year terms and shall represent insurers authorized to transact workers' compensation insurance in the State.

(c) Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses necessary for the performance of their duties."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________