STAND. COM. REP. NO.  849-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2151

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2151, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help lower increasing medical malpractice insurance costs for physicians and improve patient access to medical care by establishing a medical malpractice captive insurance company to provide affordable medical malpractice insurance coverage to self-employed physicians practicing in the state.

     The Hawaii Association of Health Plans and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed this measure.

     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. 2151, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair