STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1425

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   S.B. No. 675

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 675, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "employee-beneficiary" to include the surviving unmarried adult child of a deceased retired member if the child is incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical incapacity that existed prior to the unmarried child's reaching the age of nineteen.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board of Trustees.

 

     Your Committee finds that under existing law, children who are incapable of self-support due to mental or physical incapacity do not continue to receive health benefits under Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund health plans after the death of both parents.  These dependents are highly vulnerable to financial shock once the loss of benefits occur since they have very limited income and opportunities to otherwise obtain similar benefits.  This measure will ensure that these vulnerable persons continue to receive the benefits they need.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 675, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 675, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair