STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO.1164-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2302

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2302, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the State Health Authority whose purpose is to be responsible for:

(1) Developing a plan to provide state-funded health insurance for individuals with incomes up to three hundred percent of the federal poverty level to be ready for implementation on or about January 1, 2003;

(2) Developing a plan to purchase all health care for Hawaii residents; and

(3) Reevaluating the Prepaid Health Care Act and searching for other viable options and funding mechanisms for universal health care coverage.

Hawaii Primary Care Association, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Papa Ola Lokahi, and a concerned citizen submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health and AlohaCare supported the intent of this measure. Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported this measure with amendments.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii Insurers Council, State Farm Insurance Companies, and Hawaii Dental Service opposed this measure.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, and Office of Information Practices submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to promote further 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 S.B. No. 2302, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2302, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

		____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair