CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 178

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 900

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 900, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

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) Require the Executive Office on Aging to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature on the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the establishment of full-time equivalent Program Specialist positions within the Executive Office on Aging for the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program helps individuals, especially kupuna, understand and access Medicare benefits. As the State's Medicare population continues to grow, so too does the need and demand for the program's services. This measure increases the capacity of the Hawaii State Health Insurance Program to ensure all individuals receive the support they need to access health insurance.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the requisite information for making an appropriation in excess of the general fund expenditure ceiling pursuant to article VII, section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Appropriating $186,288 for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Program Specialist III position, one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Program Specialist IV position, and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Program Specialist V position within the Executive Office on Aging for the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program;

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2023; and

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

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 S.B. No. 900, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 900, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ JENNA TAKENOUCHI Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair