On July 12, 2018, JoAnn A. Vidinhar, Administrator for the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Disability Compensation Division, released a memo announcing amendments to Hawaii’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) law, as revised by Act 162.  The following revisions took effect on July 10, 2018:

• APRN: Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) may provide care and certify the disability.
• Increased Penalty: Employers face an increased penalty, up from $10 to $250, for failing to comply with an insurer’s request for information on wages, hours, and duration of employment within seven days from the date of the request. 
• Location of Filing Appeal: Appeals may be filed at DCD’s offices throughout the State, not only in the county in which the claimant resides or the county in which the claimant was employed prior to his/her disability.
• Hearing Notice: DCD may provide notice of a hearing of an appeal by electronic service or first-class mail. If the notice by electronic service or first-class mail cannot be made after reasonable and diligent inquiry of the party’s address, the notice may be posted online on the DLIR’s website.
• Location of Hearing: Hearings may be heard in any county, not only in the county in which the claimant resides or was last employed. Parties may appear in person, via telephone, or by other communication devices.
• Decision if Failure to Appear: A decision may be issued based on available information if any party fails to appear at the hearing.