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Committee to gather testimony after Appropriations flags duplication risk in survivor benefit package
Summary
Members of the House Committee on General & Housing discussed the survivor benefit package and agreed to take testimony and propose Appropriations language after House Appropriations staff raised concerns that the bill could duplicate existing death-benefit coverage for state employees and some local employees.
The House Committee on General & Housing paused its housing bill discussion on March 12 to address procedural concerns about a separate survivor benefit package the committee had previously reported. Committee members said House Appropriations raised a potential duplication between the proposed survivor benefit and existing state employee death benefits contained in employment contracts.
Representative Mark Mahali and other members told the committee that Appropriations preferred the committee take additional testimony and suggest specific amendment language rather than returning the bill to the committee. Committee members discussed calling in witnesses including representatives familiar with employee benefits and the State Board of Education (BSEA), and agreed to prepare possible prose to be sent to Appropriations.
Why it matters: Appropriations staff said the duplication concern could affect how the survivor benefit is funded and whether the Legislature should carve out particular employee groups or adjust language to avoid overlap. Committee members discussed scheduling testimony this week so Appropriations would have suggested language before its heavy budget week.
The committee did not adopt new statutory language on March 12. Instead, members agreed to gather evidence, invite witnesses, and draft suggested language for the Appropriations Committee to consider.
