STAND. COM. REP. NO. 27

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 334

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 334 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to submit an annual report to the Legislature on private sector employers with more than 50 employees who receive medical care or benefits from public assistance programs.

The Hawaii State AFL-CIO and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure. DHS provided comments.

Your Committee finds that large companies may be passing the costs of medical benefits for employees to the State by preventing employees from accumulating the necessary hours to be eligible for company benefits. However, your Committee notes that concerns were raised that this measure may place additional reporting and financial burdens on DHS. Other concerns include the possibility of discrimination during the application process, where employers may scrutinize applicants based on their financial status.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 334, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 334, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Employment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair