NU Online News Service, July 1, 6:44 p.m. – Hawaiian Gov. Benjamin Cayetano, a Democrat, today signed H.B. 2638, a bill that lays the groundwork for the Hawaii Long-Term Care Benefits Fund, a new state long-term care finance program.
"The program will provide a universal and affordable system of providing for long-term care for Hawaii's residents," Cayetano said Friday in a statement announcing his plans to sign the bill.
The original version of H.B. 2638 would have required employers to pay a premium of $10 per employee per month and provided a minimum benefit of $70 per day for 365 days for all program participants.
The final version eliminates those specific guidelines. Instead, it sets up a five-member board of trustees and authorizes the board to hire actuaries to help it design a plan in time for the regular 2003 legislative session.
H.B. 2638 was introduced by Rep. Marilyn Lee, D-Mililani, Hawaii.
The final version of the bill passed 38-13 in the House and 21-3 in the Senate.
