STAND. COM. REP. NO.  540-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   H.B. No. 2375

      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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2375, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Temporary Disability Insurance law to:

     (1)  Permit an advanced practice registered nurse to certify an employee's disability;

     (2)  Allow for greater flexibility in hearing procedures, including by authorizing filing of notice of appeals in a location other than the county in which the claimant was last employed, providing for electronic service of notice of hearings, allowing for hearings in any county, and providing for parties' participation in hearings through telecommunications technologies; and

     (3)  Increase the penalty when an employer fails to provide timely information to an insurer on a claim.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO supported this measure.  ILWU Local 142 provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2375, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair