STAND. COM. REP. NO.332

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 912

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 912 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reactivate the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to cover individuals who work and yet are not covered by any group medical insurance plan, Medicaid, a Medicaid waiver program, or Medicare.

This measure also allows SHIP to charge these individuals premiums in amounts in accordance to their earned income.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

Your Committee finds that the SHIP Act was introduced in response to the needs of the numerous laid off employees of sugar companies. Your Committee also finds that SHIP has been replaced by the QUEST program, a Medicaid waiver program; however, the QUEST program still leaves a gap group of persons who are not covered by any health insurance.

Your Committee determines that SHIP should be reactivated to provide health insurance coverage for the many workers who cannot afford to provide coverage for their families.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 912 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Chair