HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

13

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO RESEARCH AND EXAMINE CONGRESSIONAL PROPOSALS AND LAWS THAT PROVIDE FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR PERSONS WHO LOST EMPLOYMENT OR BECAME UNDEREMPLOYED AS THE RESULT OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 TERRORIST ATTACKS AND THE RESULTING ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

 

 

WHEREAS, at least thirteen thousand Hawaii residents have lost their jobs or become underemployed as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, thousands of Hawaii's unemp1oyed and underemployed workers are without health care insurance or are in imminent danger of losing health care insurance; and

WHEREAS, not only will the medically uninsured status of this large pool of workers threaten their health, but it will also impose greater costs on government as workers seek treatment in hospital emergency rooms for conditions otherwise treatable on an outpatient basis and further drain the already limited resources of the community health care system; and

WHEREAS, there are presently pending before the United States Congress multiple proposals to provide health care coverage for individuals who became unemployed or underemployed following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; and

WHEREAS, it may be economically and socially desirable for Hawaii to implement a health care program modeled on and complementary to programs established by Congress to provide health care insurance for persons unemployed or underemployed as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular

Session of 2002, that the Department of Human Services is requested to research and examine Congressional proposals and enactments concerning health care for workers who became unemployed or underemployed as the result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any necessary proposed legislation, to the Governor and the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

DHS Study Medical Care for Unemployed; Terrorist Attack