STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1719

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 859

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 859, S.D. 1, 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 amend the workers' compensation law to:

     (1)  Allow an employee to have a chaperone present during an independent medical examination relating to a work injury and, with the examining physician or surgeon's approval, to record the examination; and

     (2)  Specify that if the employee's designated chaperone obstructs the examination, the employee's right to compensation shall be suspended as long as the obstruction continues.

The ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Medical Association, and Hawaii Injured Workers Association supported this measure.  The Hawaii Insurers Council, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and an individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu, and two individuals provided comments.

     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 S.B. No. 859, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair