STAND. COM. REP. NO.  628

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 926

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. 926 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH HEARINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the operations of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board in hearing appeals of occupational safety and health cases by:

     (1)  Requiring the Board to provide written notice of hearing by first class mail rather than by registered or certified mail as required under current law; and

     (2)  Specifying the Board's powers in conducting the hearings.

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

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help the Hawaii Labor Relations Board realize savings that may be used more productively to develop an electronic filing system.  Your Committee also finds that allowing the Board to have the same powers as the circuit courts relating to witness testimony and documentary evidence will clarify the Board's authority for conducting appeals.

     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. 926 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair