Bill > HB13

This bill updates Hawaii's workers' compensation law by introducing detailed notice requirements for employers when handling employee injuries and benefits. The bill requires employers to provide written notifications to employees in various scenarios, such as when delaying benefit payments, denying claims, or changing benefit rates, with specific timelines and content requirements. Key provisions include mandating that employers furnish up to $10,000 in medical care immediately after an injury, submit written reports supporting claim denials within 30 days, and provide clear explanations to employees about their rights and the reasons for any benefit-related decisions. The bill also clarifies that an employee's failure to give notice of an injury does not automatically bar a compensation claim if the employer or its representatives had knowledge of the injury. These changes are modeled in part after California's workers' compensation laws and aim to improve transparency, communication, and fairness in the workers' compensation process by ensuring employees are promptly and thoroughly informed about their claims, medical treatment, and benefit status.

Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=13&year=2026