The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

10:30 a.m., Room 309

RE:  AMENDED SB 2556, SD1 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION FOR THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION BENEFITS TRUST FUND

Attention:  Chair Mark Nakashima, Vice Chair Jarrett Keohokalole and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee  opposes the intent of SB 2556 that seeks to make an additional appropriation above the the required contribution towards the The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF).

This measure seeks to appropriate funds above and beyond those already in statute.  Anything above and beyond the statutory requirement will be taking away funding from other high priority items facing our community, such as homelessness, educational programs, and infrastructure. This measure assumes that at some future date, there will be a rapid decline in the fiscal integrity of the EUTF or some sort of catastrophic event that will require the additional funding.  There are far more pressing concerns for our community at this time.

UHPA opposes the intent of SB 2556.

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                                  Executive Director