STAND. COM. REP. NO. 172

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1543

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1543 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide a tax credit for certain public employees to help offset increases in health care insurance costs.

Specifically, this bill grants individuals who are members of collective bargaining unit 12, an income tax credit of:

(1) $80 per month or $960 per year for tax filers who receive single health coverage; and

(2) $200 per month or $2,400 per year for tax filers who receive family health coverage.

The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officer, also known as SHOPO. Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Taxation. Testimony commenting on the bill was received from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee believes that this tax credit is necessary to help offset increasing health insurance costs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1543 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair