Bill > HB848

This bill modifies the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund contributions by changing how state and county employers calculate their monthly contributions to health and life insurance plans for employees. Instead of using a previously established dollar amount or a negotiated rate, the bill mandates that employers will now pay a percentage of the total premium for health and life insurance plans. The bill removes language that previously allowed these contribution amounts to be negotiated through collective bargaining and eliminates provisions related to resolving disputes about contribution amounts through arbitration. Additionally, the bill makes conforming amendments to several statutes, including sections defining collective bargaining, employee organizations, and negotiation scopes, effectively removing references to health benefits trust fund contributions from these definitions. The changes aim to simplify the process of determining employer contributions to health and life insurance plans for public employees by establishing a fixed percentage-based approach. The bill is set to take effect upon approval, with some provisions having a sunset date of June 30, 2029, and includes provisions to ensure that ongoing negotiations can continue even after the Act's potential repeal.

Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=848&year=2026