Hawaii Governor Lingle Vetoes Workers’ Comp Bill

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle handed state employers a victory last week, when she vetoed House Bill 854. The bill would have required wage loss or temporary total disability payments continue to be paid even during a dispute, only to be terminated upon order of the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, or if the employee’s treating physician determines that the employee is able to resume work and the employer has made a bonafide offer of work within the employee’s medical restrictions.