STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2306

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2660

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2660 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL COVERAGE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) In the event of a controverted workers' compensation claim, require an injured employee's private health care plan to pay for or provide medical care, services, and supplies; provided that when the claim is accepted, the employer shall reimburse the private health care plan and injured employee; and

(2) In the event of an accepted workers' compensation claim for leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or certain cancers by a firefighter with five or more years of service, require an employer to be liable for one hundred thirty-seven percent of medical care, services, and supplies.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Insurers Council, Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, and five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committees find that firefighters are exposed to multiple carcinogens and toxicants that are known or suspected to cause cancer through incident exposure as residential and vehicle fires release highly concentrated toxicants from plastics and synthetics. This exposure places firefighters at significantly higher risks than the general population of getting testicular cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, skin cancer, brain and malignant melanoma, rectal cancer, prostate cancer, buccal cavity and pharynx cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, and leukemia. Your Committees believe that providing sufficient medical coverage for firefighters recognizes the inherent occupational hazards that come with the job, ensures that firefighters receive proper medical treatment in a timely manner, and lessens the impact of emotional toil, financial burdens, and decreased quality of life on the families of firefighters diagnosed with cancer.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2660 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair