Report Title:

Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to DLIR for enhanced education for employers and employees and enforcement of the PHCA.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1053

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for education and enforcement of the hawaii prepaid health care act.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is the only state in the nation to mandate health coverage for employees under the Hawaii prepaid health care act of 1974 (PHCA). The PHCA establishes required benefits to be provided by employer-based health plans. It mandates that coverage benefits must be equal to those provided by the plan with the largest number of subscribers in the State. The legislature further finds that, unfortunately, a number of employers and employees throughout the State are uninformed as to the mandates, rights, and benefits provided for under the PHCA.

The purpose of this Act is to provide funds to the department of labor and industrial relations to:

(1) Increase efforts to educate employers and employees regarding the requirements of the PHCA; and

(2) Increase compliance with the PHCA through enhanced monitoring and auditing of employers.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for increased education and enforcement of the prepaid health care act.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

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