STAND. COM. REP. NO. 321

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 978

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 978 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND DEFINITIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify the eligibility of children of deceased employees and retirees for participation in Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) benefit plans;

(2) Distinguish between surviving children of a deceased employee or retiree and the later-born or adopted children of a surviving spouse of deceased employees and retirees; and

(3) Align the age-based benefits eligibility for participation in EUTF benefit plans of surviving children of all employees and retirees who pass away with that of surviving children of employees who are killed in the performance of their duty.

EUTF testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 978, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 978, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair