STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3023

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2161

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DISABILITY COMPENSATION DIVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the hiring of six hearings officer positions and support staff within the Department's Disability Compensation Division and to provide the officers and staff with legal and medical training.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Human Resources, City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii Injured Workers Association; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; ILWU Local 142; and one individual.

     Implementation of this measure will enable the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Disability Compensation Division to be more efficient and effective, benefiting all stakeholders.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $355,526;

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As this measure moves through the legislative process, your Committee requests that your Committee on Ways and Means consider passage of this measure in conjunction with any associated line item that may be in the executive budget.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair