CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 170

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2021

 

RE:    H.B. No. 468

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sirs:

 

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 468, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Temporarily suspend the requirement for public employers to make annual required contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund through fiscal year 2024-2025; and


     (2)  Require the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to:

 

          (A)  Examine and assess possible means to offset the future increase in the State's annual required contributions resulting from the temporary suspension, including the impacts of eliminating the state and county employers' obligations to reimburse Medicare Part B premiums to spouses of employee‑beneficiaries who are hired after a specific future date; and

 

          (B)  Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022.

 

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Temporarily suspending the requirement for public employers to make annual required contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund for two fiscal years, rather than four;

 

     (2)  Removing the requirements that the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund examine and assess possible means to offset the future increase in the State's annual required contributions resulting from the temporary suspension and submit a report to the Legislature;

 

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2021; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 468, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 468, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

 

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

 

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI

Chair

 

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI

Co-Chair

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ

Co-Chair

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE

Co-Chair