HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 137 Draft 01 1980-1984County of Hawaii—State of Hawaii
Resolution No. 137 81
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, Cha:pter.393, HRS,
enacted in 1974, requires all employees in the State working at
least twenty-four hours per week to be covered by a comprehensive
prepaid health care plan provided through 'their employers; and
WHEREAS, as the result of the Prepaid Health Act, Hawaii enjoys
an estimated 98.2 percent group health insurance coverage of its
civilian population in 1977 with minimal administrative costs on the
part of the government; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act shall terminate upon
the enactment of Federal legislation, 1974 Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (ERISA), that provides for voluntary prepaid health care
for the people of Hawaii in a manner at least as favorable as the
care provided by the Hawaii Plan; and
WHEREAS, ERISA, primarily a pension reform act, was enacted to
protect employees who elected to participate in a benefit plan from
potential abuses and mismanagement of funds through disclosure,
reporting and fiduciary requirements, and does not mandate health
coverage to all regular employees required under the Prepaid Health
Care Act; and
WHEREAS, the pre-emption by the ERISA will significantly impair
the low cost comprehensive Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Plan now in
effect for the people of Hawaii since 197.4; and
WHEREAS, Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Senator Spark M. Matsunaga
recently introduced Bill No. S-1232 amending ERISA to exempt Hawaii's
Prepaid Health Care Act from pre-emption by the federal government,
an identical bill which passed by the Senate last year, but deleted
in a Senate -House conference committee on ERISA because of House
objections; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii State House of Representatives passed a
resolution at the 11th State Legislature supporting action taken by
our two senators from Hawaii and requested the Congress to support
the bili exempting Hawaii's Prepaid Health Care Act pre-empting from
the 1974 ERISA.
NOW, THEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that it requests the U. S. Congress to exempt Hawaii's
Prepaid Health Care Act from the pre-emption provision of the 1974
Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Congressional delegation
be commended for their past attempt and request that they continue
their efforts in bb>taining the exemption.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii
transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the
U. S. Senate; the Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives;
and to members of the Hawaii Congressional delegation.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 22nd day of July
INTRODUCED BY:
MEMBER,
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to
the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on
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July ------ -- ----------
22 --- -,-
----- 1981 ---- -------------- -------------------- ---- ---- --------
ATTEST:
COUNTY CL K 0#A1VRMANt&,PESIDING OFFICER
1981.
ROLL
CALL VOTE
AYES NOES A/E
Dahlberg
X
De Luz, III
X
Domingo
Fujii
X
Hale
X
Kawahara
X
Lai
X
Schutte
X
Chr. Yamashiro X
Reference: F L'—
M.B. No.
RESOLUTION NO. _
1
1"x'7 8-1