STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3030

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2441

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2441 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide for workers' compensation coverage for students participating in school-approved work-based learning programs sponsored by the Department of Education or the University of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Department of Education, and the ILWU Local 142.

     Your Committees find that under the current law, students who participate in school-approved work-based learning programs that are sponsored by the Department of Education or the University of Hawaii are provided workers' compensation coverage if the work is performed for private employers.  However, the law does not cover similar students who provide work for the University of Hawaii, the Department of Education, or any other public entity.  This measure extends workers' compensation coverage to students participating in work-study programs for both private and public employers.  Your Committees determine that such coverage will help to protect our students while providing them with the greatest number of opportunities to prepare themselves for entering the workforce.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2441, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair