HI SR148

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations requested to analyze Hawaii workers' compensation death benefit cases from the past ten years and obtain additional data from the Hawaii Insurers Council or other sources.

Analysis should focus on updating Workers' Compensation Law, particularly section 386-41, HRS, which establishes benefit calculations for surviving spouses, children, parents, and grandparents of deceased employees.

Current law relies on actuarial tables created in 1963 for calculating different generational benefit amounts, which may not reflect significant changes in longevity and dependency trends over sixty years.

Department must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2024 Regular Session convening.

Report should address whether current benefit distribution parameters are reasonable and fair under modern conditions.