STAND. COM. REP. NO. 493

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1548

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1548 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is change the composition of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board (EUTF Board) to include county representation. Among other things, this bill:

(1) Increases membership of the EUTF Board from 10 to 12;

(2) Requires that 11 members be appointed by the Governor and one member be appointed by a county mayor on a rotating basis;

(3) Prohibits the Governor from reducing the term of the member selected by a county; and

(4) Permits the county mayor, instead of the Governor, to appoint a replacement for a vacancy in the county trustee position.

The Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance commented on this measure.

Your Committee finds that there is currently no requirement for county representation on the EUTF Board. Given the fact that decisions by the EUTF Board affect the budgets of both the State and its political subdivisions, it is logical to have one member of the EUTF Board representing the counties as a public employer.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1548 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

____________________________

KIRK CALDWELL, Chair