STAND. COM. REP. NO. 828-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1778

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1778, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide firefighters with improved access to comprehensive medical coverage for certain diseases arising out of and in the course of their employment when a firefighter's workers' compensation claim is accepted or determined to be compensable.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the firefighter's private health care plan to pay for or provide medical care, services, and supplies for controverted claims, subject to reimbursement by the firefighter's employer if the claim is later accepted or determined to be compensable; and

(2) Increases a firefighter's employer's liability for medical costs for certain cancers including those that affect specified organs.

The Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii Fire Department, Kaua‘i Fire Department, and Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO supported this measure. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Mayor for the County of Hawaii, and Hawaii Insurers Council offered comments for this measure.

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. 1778, 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