STAND. COM. REP. NO. 9-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1673

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1673 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require employers to be liable for medical care, services, and supplies when a workers' compensation claim filed by a solid waste worker suffering from cancer is accepted.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that solid waste workers are constantly exposed to a variety of materials that, unbeknownst to them, may result in life-altering or long-term health issues. Therefore, it is critical that employers cover cancer-related medical costs that may have resulted from these employees being exposed to harmful materials during their years of dedicated service.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider whether the term "trash" referenced in the measure should be changed to "solid waste".

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1673, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1673, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair