STAND. COM. REP. NO.  809-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2099

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2099, H.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 improve the efficiency of the workers' compensation system by allowing attorney's fees to be included in costs that may be assessed against a party who brings, prosecutes, or defends a workers' compensation claim without reasonable grounds.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 142; Vocational Management Consultants, Inc.; and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  Hawaii Insurers Council commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2099, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair