STAND. COM. REP. NO.  88

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 913

      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 Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 913 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide expanded, employer-financed medical, disability indemnity, and death benefits to firefighters who develop cancer as a result of exposure to carcinogens in the line of duty.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Kauai Fire Department, and Hawaii Fire Fighters Association.  The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Employees' Retirement System, Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu, and Hawaii Medical Service Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2090, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 913, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 913, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair