HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1287

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

Proposed

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to address public employment.  More specifically, this Act:

     (1)  Extends the enabling law for the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust for six months in order to provide for a smoother transition to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund;

     (2)  Appropriates funds for five temporary positions to assist in the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust transition; and

     (3)  Appropriates funds for five permanent positions to perform other employer-union health benefits trust fund duties.

     The legislature finds that the employer-union health benefits trust fund staff is encountering difficulties performing its duties.  The legislature believes that these difficulties are the result of an increased and more complex workload, shortage of personnel, and absence of board and administrative leadership.

     The legislature further finds that the enabling law for the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust, an alternative health benefits system utilized by the employee organization for public school teachers, will sunset on July 1, 2010.  The legislature declares that it does not intend to make the enabling law permanent or to extend the sunset date for another pilot testing period.

     Notwithstanding this intent, the legislature finds that the employer-union health benefits trust fund staff will have extreme difficulty in transitioning public school teachers and their dependents from the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust to the employer-union health benefits trust fund on July 1, 2010, while performing their normal duties.  The legislature does not want to place an excessive burden on the employer-union health benefits trust fund staff or cause uncertainty for public school teachers and their dependents who will have to transition from the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust.

     Thus, the legislature finds that the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust enabling law should be extended for six months and additional employer-union health benefits trust fund personnel funded to assist in the transition as well as to perform normal duties.

     SECTION 2.  Act 5, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, is amended by amending section 1 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 1.  Act 245, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, as amended by Act 294, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, is amended by amending section 2 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 2.  Act 245, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, is amended by amending section 8 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval, for the purpose of establishing a voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust pilot program in March, 2006 and shall be repealed on [July 1,] December 31, 2010; provided that sections 89-2, 89-3, 89-6, and 89-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are reenacted in the form in which they read on the day before the effective date of this Act.""

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for five temporary positions under the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund to assist in the transition of public employees and their dependents from the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund on January 1, 2011.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for five permanent positions under the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund to assist in the performance of duties of the trust fund.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.



 

Report Title:

Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Staffing; Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association Trust Transition

 

Description:

Extends the enabling law for the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust from 07/01/10 to 12/31/10 in order to provide for a better transition to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund.  Appropriates funds for more staff for the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.