Bill Text: HI HB697 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Temporary Health Insurance for the Unemployed; Appropriations

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB697 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB697-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  806

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 697

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 697 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UNEMPLOYED PERSONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that individuals who lose their employer-based health insurance due to the effects of the current economic downturn are provided a safety net for their health care coverage.  This bill:

 

     (1)  Establishes the Temporary Health Insurance for Unemployed Persons Program (Program) which offers similar health benefits provided by the QUEST-Net Program;

 

     (2)  Partially reimburses individuals who continue their health insurance coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA); and

 

     (3)  Appropriates funds to administer the Program as well as to reimburse individuals enrolled in COBRA health care coverage under COBRA.

 

     The Hawaii Medical Service Association, ILWU Local 142, and UNITE HERE! Local 5 testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Changing the appropriation amount for the administration of the Program to an unspecified amount;

 

(2)  Changing the appropriation amount for the reimbursement of individuals enrolled in COBRA to an unspecified amount;

 

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, 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 H.B. No. 697, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 697, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

		____________________________ MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair