STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1544

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1348

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1348, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a nonprofit health insurance exchange, to be known as the Hawaii Health Connector, to, among other things, facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans in compliance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, American Cancer Society, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Dental Service testified in support of this bill.  The Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau and Hawaii Association of Health Plans offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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. 1348, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1348, S.D. 2, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair