Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Third Special Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Temporary Health Insurance for Unemployed Persons Program (Program) to assist individuals and families who have lost their jobs as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by:

(1) Extending temporary health insurance benefits to

Your Committee notes that S.B. No. 2 is a companion measure to H.B. No. 2 which your Committee reported out earlier in an unamended form, and the contents of these bills are identical. On October 23, 2001, both the Senate and the House held an extensive public hearing on S.B. No. 2 and H.B. No. 2, at which time many citizens and organizations testified on these measures.

Your Committee believes that economic need should be one of the factors considered when making available the funds appropriated for the temporary health insurance for unemployed persons program and for reimbursements to those eligible under COBRA.

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. 2 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.