STAND. COM. REP. NO.  834-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2478

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2478 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SECTION 1332 STATE INNOVATION WAIVER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to maintain continued availability of affordable health insurance coverage in Hawaii as recommended by the State Innovation Waiver Task Force by:

     (1)  Authorizing the State to submit a proposal for a State Innovation Waiver (Waiver) pursuant to section 1332 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010; and

     (2)  Implementing the Waiver, upon approval by the United States Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Treasury, on or after January 1, 2017.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Chair of the Hawaii ACA State Innovation Waiver Task Force, ILWU Local 142, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and The Queen's Health Systems provided testimony in support of the measure. An individual provided comments.

     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. 2478 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair