STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1960

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 1204

S.D. 2

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1204, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, 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 amend statutory provisions governing the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund for purposes of conformity with federal law and consistency with other state statutes. Specifically, this measure:

(1) Clarifies eligibility of the children of employee-beneficiaries, retiree-beneficiaries, and deceased beneficiaries for participation in EUTF benefit plans;

(2) Conforms eligibility criteria for dependents of an employee-beneficiary to federal requirements; and

(3) Conforms references to spousal relationships for purposes of eligibility criteria to current state law relating to marriage equality and the availability of civil unions.

EUTF testified in support of this measure.

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 S.B. No. 1204, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair