STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2823

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2108

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2108 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide health care premium assistance for any health insurance costs assessed against individuals at various income ranges up to three hundred percent of the federal poverty level.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that access to health care is an important need for Hawaii residents. According to the Federal Census Bureau, about half of the population of the State has an income at three hundred percent of the federal poverty level. Providing health care premium assistance would make health insurance costs more affordable for families in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2108, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2108, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair