SB 1380 amends Hawaii law governing pay and allowances for Hawaii National Guard members when they are on active duty in service of the State. The bill keeps the existing rule that officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel receive pay and allowances comparable to similarly ranked members of the U.S. Army or Air Force, and it adds explicit authorization for direct deposit of pay into personal bank accounts.
The bill’s main substantive change is to require the State to provide an allowance for health-related coverage costs when a Guard member is activated for more than 30 days and is not otherwise covered by health insurance. For eligible officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel, the allowance would cover TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for the member, and TRICARE Reserve Select for eligible dependents. The bill also preserves the rule that no state pay or allowances are owed for service already compensated by the United States, and it retains the minimum pay floor for enlisted personnel tied to the state hourly wage statute.
Impact
If enacted, SB 1380 would expand state reimbursement/allowance obligations for the Hawaii National Guard by broadening access to TRICARE-related and vision coverage support for members activated for more than 30 days. It would amend sections 121-39 and 121-40 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, affecting compensation and benefits administration for officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel serving on state active duty. The bill would also remove prior grade-based limits in brackets, indicating that the allowance would apply more broadly than under the existing language.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcripts or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge sentiment. Based on the bill text and its description, the measure appears generally supportive of National Guard members by improving access to health coverage assistance during extended state activations. The bill’s framing suggests a practical personnel-benefits measure rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is fiscal: the bill would require the State to pay allowances for TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE dental, and vision coverage for a broader set of activated Guard members, which could increase state costs. Another possible issue is the removal of prior grade-based eligibility limits, which expands benefits to more officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel than before. No specific objections or opposing arguments are documented in the provided materials.