STAND. COM. REP. NO. 940

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1208

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1208, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for enforcement specialist IV positions in the Disability Compensation Division (Division) of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Insurers Council, Carpet Linoleum and Soft Tile Local Union 1926 Market Recovery Trust Fund, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Glaziers Architectural Metal Glassworkers Local Union 1889 AFL-CIO Stabilization Trust Fund, Pacific Resource Partnership, Painting Industry of Hawaii Labor Management and Cooperation Trust Fund, and Hawai‘i Construction Alliance.

     Your Committee finds that the Division has the fiduciary duty to administer the State's workers' compensation, temporary disability, and prepaid health care programs.  Your Committee also finds that additional positions within the Division will allow the Division to expedite operations and increase efficiency to the benefit of injured workers, employers, health providers, insurers, and the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the number of positions established be two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions;

     (2)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $112,078 per fiscal year;

     (3)  Allowing the appropriated sums to be used for current expenses and equipment, in addition to the establishment of two positions; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 1208, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1208, H.D. 2, 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,

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GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair