STAND. COM. REP. NO. 246-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2209

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2209 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that insurance premiums remain stable and affordable for Hawaii's consumers by establishing a state-level individual mandate, requiring certain qualified taxpayers to sign up for and maintain health insurance coverage throughout the year, or be subject to pay a penalty on their income tax return.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and a concerned individual supported this measure. The Honolulu County Republican Party and several concerned individuals opposed this measure. The Department of Taxation, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Christian Science Committee on Publication for Hawaii provided comments.

Your Committee notes the concerns provided by the Insurance Commissioner, which suggested that the assessment of affordability of health plans should be based upon criteria similar to those implemented in Massachusetts rather than having the Insurance Commissioner establish the appropriate process. Your Committee also notes the Commissioner's concerns with maintaining a creditable coverage list and the Commissioner's lack of jurisdiction to regulate administrative decisions of the Department of Tax.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2209, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2209, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair