H.B. 979 Summary

• Amends the definition of "dependent-beneficiary" in the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to remove restrictions on unmarried dependents and those not living with the employee, aligning with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

• Changes "child" eligibility from "unmarried child who lives with the employee-beneficiary" to simply "child deemed eligible by the board," removing marital status and residency requirements.

• Updates references throughout chapters 87A-32, 87A-33, 87A-34, 87A-35, and 87A-36 to recognize civil unions alongside marriages when two employee-beneficiaries are in a legal relationship.

• Applies these changes to contribution calculations for active employees, retirees, and survivors under various health benefit plans and service tenure levels.

• Takes effect on January 1, 2050.