STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1256

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1134

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1134, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PREPAID HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that Hawaii residents continue to receive top-quality health care, regardless of federal health care laws, by repealing the provision of the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act that sunsets the Act upon enactment of a national health plan.

     Your Committee finds that the State of Hawaii has been providing quality health care to a large majority of its residents since 1974, when the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act was enacted.  While it is refreshing to see Hawaii's historic health care reform replicated on a national scale, it is imperative that our state health care is not jeopardized by a federal plan that may not be as favorable as benefits provided under the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1134, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1134, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair