STAND. COM. REP. NO.  69

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 409

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 409 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TAX CREDITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to endorse preventative medicine by creating a tax credit for certain employers who offer their employees a qualified wellness program.

     The Hawaii Medical Association and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 409, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 409, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair