STAND. COM. REP. NO. 255

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 928

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 928 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND DEFINITION OF "DEPENDENT-BENFICIARY","

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Amend the definition of "dependent-beneficiary" under the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) to clarify eligibility of children for participation in fund benefit plans; and

     (2)  Conform the definition of "dependent-beneficiary" to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

     Your Committee finds that the existing definition of "dependent-beneficiary" in section 87A-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, allows for a child born to or adopted by an employee's or retiree's surviving spouse after the death of the employee or retiree to receive EUTF benefits.  Your Committee finds that EUTF benefits should only cover natural or adopted children of a deceased state employee or retiree.  Your Committee also finds that it is important for EUTF definitions to be consistent with existing federal law.

     Your Committee notes that this measure's title contains a typographical error and recommends that the EUTF work with your Committee on Ways and Means to find a more appropriate vehicle for this measure.

     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 S.B. No. 928 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair