STAND. COM. REP. 763

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 50

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 50, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HEALTH FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to re-establish health fund benefits to retired public employees under the Hawaii Public Employees Health Fund (HPEHF). This bill restores provisions that existed prior to the passage of Act 88, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, which established the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund. This bill also requires annual audits of health benefits plans of any employee organization.

The Retirees Unit of HGEA-AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO and the Hawaii State Retired Teachers Association testified in support of this measure. The Oahu Retired Teachers Association and one individual offered comments. The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this bill.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Requiring, rather than authorizing, the Board of Trustees of HPEHF to contract for various health benefits plans; and

(2) Changing the effective date of this measure to July 1, 2010, for the purpose of continued discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 50, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 50, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair