SB 88: National Guard; Insurance; TRICARE; Department of Defense; Dental; Vision

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 121-39, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§121-39  Pay of officers and warrant officers while on active duty.  Officers and warrant officers of the army or air national guard while on active duty in the service of the State shall receive the pay and allowances of officers and warrant officers of similar grades of the United States Army and Air Force, respectively; provided that:

     (1)  The State shall allow officers and warrant officers to directly deposit their pay by electronic means to their personal banking accounts;

     (2)  If an officer or warrant officer is activated for more than thirty days in the service of the State and is not otherwise covered by health insurance, the State shall provide an allowance for the payment of TRICARE reserve select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for the individual officer or warrant officer and TRICARE reserve select coverage for the officer's family should the officer or warrant officer have eligible dependents[; provided that this paragraph shall only apply to officers in the grades of O-3 and below and warrant officers in the grades of CW-2 and below]; and

     (3)  No pay or allowances shall be made to officers or warrant officers for any service for which they receive military pay and allowances from the United States."

     SECTION 2.  Section 121-40, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§121-40  Pay of enlisted personnel while on active duty.  Enlisted personnel of the army and air national guard while on active duty in the service of the State, except during periods of annual field training or year-round field training, shall receive the same pay and allowances as enlisted personnel of similar rank in the United States Army and Air Force respectively; provided that the:

     (1)  State shall allow enlisted personnel to directly deposit their pay by electronic means to their personal banking accounts;

     (2)  If an enlisted person is activated for more than thirty days in the service of the State and is not otherwise covered by health insurance, the State shall provide an allowance for the payment of TRICARE reserve select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for the individual enlisted person and TRICARE reserve select coverage for the enlisted person's family should the enlisted person have eligible dependents[; provided that this paragraph shall only apply to enlisted personnel in the grades of E-6 and below]; and

     (3)  Aggregate of the pay and allowances, computed on a daily basis, shall in no event be less than the amount equal to ten times the hourly wage specified in section 387-2."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

National Guard; Insurance; TRICARE; Department of Defense; Dental; Vision

Description:

Authorizes the payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than 30 days.  (CD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 121-39, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§121-39  Pay of officers and warrant officers while on active duty.  Officers and warrant officers of the army or air national guard while on active duty in the service of the State shall receive the pay and allowances of officers and warrant officers of similar grades of the United States Army and Air Force, respectively; provided that:

     (1)  The State shall allow officers and warrant officers to directly deposit their pay by electronic means to their personal banking accounts;

     (2)  If an officer or warrant officer is activated for more than thirty days in the service of the State and is not otherwise covered by health insurance, the State shall provide an allowance for the payment of TRICARE reserve select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for the individual officer or warrant officer and TRICARE reserve select coverage for the officer's family should the officer or warrant officer have eligible dependents[; provided that this paragraph shall only apply to officers in the grades of O-3 and below and warrant officers in the grades of CW-2 and below]; and

     (3)  No pay or allowances shall be made to officers or warrant officers for any service for which they receive military pay and allowances from the United States."

     SECTION 2.  Section 121-40, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§121-40  Pay of enlisted personnel while on active duty.  Enlisted personnel of the army and air national guard while on active duty in the service of the State, except during periods of annual field training or year-round field training, shall receive the same pay and allowances as enlisted personnel of similar rank in the United States Army and Air Force respectively; provided that the:

     (1)  State shall allow enlisted personnel to directly deposit their pay by electronic means to their personal banking accounts;

     (2)  If an enlisted person is activated for more than thirty days in the service of the State and is not otherwise covered by health insurance, the State shall provide an allowance for the payment of TRICARE reserve select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for the individual enlisted person and TRICARE reserve select coverage for the enlisted person's family should the enlisted person have eligible dependents[; provided that this paragraph shall only apply to enlisted personnel in the grades of E-6 and below]; and

     (3)  Aggregate of the pay and allowances, computed on a daily basis, shall in no event be less than the amount equal to ten times the hourly wage specified in section 387-2."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

National Guard; Insurance; TRICARE; Department of Defense; Dental; Vision

Description:

Authorizes the payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than 30 days.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to the Hawaii National Guard.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 121-39, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§121-39  Pay of officers and warrant officers while on active duty.  Officers and warrant officers of the army or air national guard while on active duty in the service of the State shall receive the pay and allowances of officers and warrant officers of similar grades of the United States Army and Air Force, respectively; provided that:

     (1)  The State shall allow officers and warrant officers to directly deposit their pay by electronic means to their personal banking accounts;

     (2)  If an officer or warrant officer is activated for more than thirty days in the service of the State and is not otherwise covered by health insurance, the State shall provide an allowance for the payment of TRICARE reserve select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for the individual officer or warrant officer and TRICARE reserve select coverage for the officer's family should the officer or warrant officer have eligible dependents[; provided that this paragraph shall only apply to officers in the grades of O-3 and below and warrant officers in the grades of CW-2 and below]; and

     (3)  No pay or allowances shall be made to officers or warrant officers for any service for which they receive military pay and allowances from the United States."

     SECTION 2.  Section 121-40, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§121-40  Pay of enlisted personnel while on active duty.  Enlisted personnel of the army and air national guard while on active duty in the service of the State, except during periods of annual field training or year-round field training, shall receive the same pay and allowances as enlisted personnel of similar rank in the United States Army and Air Force respectively; provided that the:

     (1)  State shall allow enlisted personnel to directly deposit their pay by electronic means to their personal banking accounts;

     (2)  If an enlisted person is activated for more than thirty days in the service of the State and is not otherwise covered by health insurance, the State shall provide an allowance for the payment of TRICARE reserve select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for the individual enlisted person and TRICARE reserve select coverage for the enlisted person's family should the enlisted person have eligible dependents[; provided that this paragraph shall only apply to enlisted personnel in the grades of E-6 and below]; and

     (3)  Aggregate of the pay and allowances, computed on a daily basis, shall in no event be less than the amount equal to ten times the hourly wage specified in section 387-2."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

National Guard; Insurance; TRICARE; Department of Defense; Dental; Vision

Description:

Authorizes the payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than 30 days.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2025

RE:    S.B. No. 88

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 88, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than thirty days.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that some Hawaii National Guard service members ordered to active duty are required to take an indefinite leave of absence from their civilian jobs and consequently lose healthcare coverage provided by their civilian employers.  Your Committee on Conference further finds that authorizing the payment of certain healthcare coverage for Hawaii National Guard Members is an appropriate way to support service members and their families and to ensure continuous Hawaii National Guard response force capacity in the State.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 88, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 88, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1983

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.B. No. 88

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 88 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than thirty days.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense; Hawaiʻi National Guard; Ohana Unity Party; and one individual.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 88, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 88, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1286

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.B. No. 88

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 88 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than thirty days.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi National Guard and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that some Hawaii National Guard servicemembers lose healthcare coverage from their civilian employers when they are required to take an indefinite leave of absence for active-duty military service.  Your Committee further finds that the medical, dental, and vision coverage authorized by this measure will ensure that servicemembers and their families' access to health care is maintained when the servicemembers are called to serve on state active duty for more than thirty days.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 88 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 869

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 88

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 88 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard who are ordered to active duty for more than thirty days.  

     Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the state Department of Defense, Hawaii National Guard, and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that some National Guard servicemembers lose healthcare coverage under their civilian employers when the servicemembers are required to take an indefinite leave of absence for active duty military service.  Your Committees believe that the medical, dental, and vision coverage authorized by this measure will help act as a safeguard for Hawaii National Guard servicemembers and their families when the servicemembers are called to an extended period of active duty in service of the State.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 88 and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 31

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 88

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 88 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 payment of allowances for TRICARE, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than thirty days.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Hawaiʻi National Guard, Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association, and eleven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that service members of the Hawaiʻi National Guard provide vital support to the State in times of disaster or domestic crisis.  Recent increases in natural disasters throughout the State have resulted in an increased number of Hawaiʻi National Guard service members being ordered to state active duty for extended periods.  As a result, many service members have been required to take indefinite leaves of absence from their civilian employment, which can create challenges regarding their healthcare coverage.  While some civilian employers may choose to continue paying their employees' company-provided healthcare premiums during an absence, this is not universally the case.  Consequently, service members risk losing their healthcare benefits after thirty days of being on state active duty orders, forcing them to continuously evaluate their ability to serve without healthcare coverage or to seek termination of their state active duty orders to maintain their company-provided healthcare for themselves and their families.  This measure will ensure that Hawaiʻi National Guard service members receive complete healthcare coverage during periods of state active duty exceeding thirty days, which will support an uninterrupted Hawaiʻi National Guard response force capability to the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 88 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,