STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3710

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2396

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

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. 2396, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the State to provide an allowance for the payment of TRICARE Reserve Select coverage to junior officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard who are ordered to active duty for more than thirty days in the service of the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense.

Your Committee finds that providing an allowance for Tricare Reserve Select coverage is the most cost-effective way for the State to ensure accessible and affordable health care coverage for members of the Hawaii National Guard when the members are called into active duty service for an extended period.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the measure's effective date from July 1, 2042, to upon its approval; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2396, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2396, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair