STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2933

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 Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2660 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide sufficient medical care and insurance coverage for firefighters.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires that if a firefighter experiences a controverted workers' compensation claim, the firefighter's medical insurance shall pay for the medical treatment and that if the claim is later determined to be compensable, the employer shall reimburse the firefighter's medical insurance provider for the expenses of the medical treatment; and

(2) Requires that an employer shall be liable for treatment of certain forms of cancer experienced by a firefighter with five or more years of service; provided that the fee for medical service shall not exceed one hundred thirty-seven percent of the fees prescribed in the Medicare Resource Based Relative Value Scale applicable to Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Kauai Fire Department, Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that firefighters are routinely exposed to carcinogens and toxicants that increase their risk of later developing cancer. Your Committee believes that legislation presuming that the cancers developed or manifested in the course of employment will help to provide firefighters and their families with proper medical care and financial support.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2660 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair