STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1250-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2355

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2355, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to reduce ambiguities in the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (Fund) relating to its treatment of public employees who have a break in employment or transfer between jobs with the state or county.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association testified in support of this bill and suggested an amendment.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Adding a provision clarifying that a public employee hired prior to July 1, 1996, who:

(a) Has had a break in public service for more than 90 days before returning to state or county employment; and

(b) Cumulatively accrues at least ten years of credited public service;

is eligible for retirement health benefits for public employees hired prior to July 1, 1996, who have at least ten years of credited public service;

(2) Amending the effective date to July 1, 2010, to facilitate further discussion; and

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

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. 2355, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2355, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair