STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2006

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2175

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2175 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 measure is to require that one public employer member on the Board of Trustees of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund be appointed by the Hawaii Council of Mayors to represent the counties.

     Your Committee received testimony in strong support of this measure from the Hawaii Council of Mayors and the Hawai‘i State Association of Counties.  Comments were received from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the counties should be represented on the Board of Trustees of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.  The counties contribute a substantial amount to the Fund and the health and well-being of their employees and retirees depend on the benefit decisions made by the board of trustees.  Furthermore, the county member on the Board of Trustees will be able to provide the Board with input concerning county finances, county workplaces, and other county information.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2175 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair