STAND. COM. REP. NO.  627

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 925

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 925 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY APPEALS REFEREE'S OFFICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to streamline the employment security appeals process.

     Specifically, the measure improves the processing of unemployment insurance claims by:

     (1)  Revising the notice period for an unemployment insurance appeal hearing from fifteen days to twelve days before the initial hearing date; and

     (2)  Authorizing a claimant or party to an appeal to elect to receive notices and appeal documents from the Employment Security Appeals Referee's Office electronically in lieu of mail.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that section 91-9.5(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires written notice of a hearing to be mailed at least fifteen days prior to the hearing date, unless otherwise provided by law.  This measure reduces the notice period for unemployment insurance appeals to twelve days prior to the hearing date, allowing the parties to receive an earlier hearing date and appeal decision.  In addition, this measure permits the delivery of appeal notices and documents through faster, more efficient, and cost-effective electronic means.

     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. 925 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair