STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3765

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1533

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1533, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEATH BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the amount of death benefits paid by the Department of Human Services to cover the costs of cremation and disposition for a deceased person who was eligible for medical or financial assistance at the time of the person's death and whose body is unclaimed.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from ILWU - Local 1000/Sebastian's Arch, LLC; Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association; Dodo Mortuary, Inc.; and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that when a body is unclaimed, mortuaries and crematories bear any costs above the State's reimbursement rate for the body's cremation, transportation, storage, and final disposition. Increasing the reimbursement rate will make it more sustainable for the State's mortuaries and crematories to continue to accept and care for unclaimed remains.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1533, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1533, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair