CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 103

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 696

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 696, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the wages of other employees in comparable employment to be considered when computing the average weekly wages of an injured public board member, reserve police officer, police chaplain, reserve public safety law enforcement officer, sheriffs' chaplain, volunteer firefighter, volunteer boating enforcement officer, or volunteer conservation and resources enforcement officer; and

(2) Clarify the computation of average weekly wages of an injured volunteer firefighter for workers' compensation benefits purposes.

Your Committee on Conference finds that under existing law, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is prohibited from considering the wages of other employees in comparable employment when computing the average weekly wages of various volunteer positions, including reserve police officers, volunteer firefighters, and volunteer boating enforcement officers. Your Committee on Conference recognizes that the work performed by these volunteers is both vital and potentially dangerous and further finds that it is appropriate for any of these volunteers who sustain injuries in the line of duty to be afforded equitable workers' compensation benefits. This measure ensures those who volunteer in certain volunteer positions are fairly compensated with sufficient coverage under workers' compensation laws for the services they perform.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 696, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 696, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Chair
____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Co-Chair
____________________________ ANDREW GARRETT Co-Chair	____________________________ CHRIS LEE Co-Chair