STAND. COM. REP. NO.  758

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1504

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1504 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish the Hawaii Health Authority (Authority) to develop a comprehensive plan to provide universal health care in Hawaii.

     Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Hawaii Government Employees Association, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, Kokua Kalihi Valley, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee notes that the purpose of the Authority is to comprehensively reform Hawaii's health care system, and is not limited merely to health insurance.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     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. 1504, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1504, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair