Revival of reciprocal benefits sought

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

The University of Hawai'i will ask the coming 2003 state Legislature to authorize reciprocal health benefits for domestic partners of university employees.

Such a measure could cover gay partnerships as well as unmarried heterosexual partnerships or even partnerships consisting of a parent and child.

Successful passage of such a measure could effectively reauthorize a reciprocal beneficiaries law for state employees that was in force for two years but lapsed in 1999 when the Legislature did not to renew it.

"This is a first step in the process," said David Morihara, the university's chief lobbyist. "We're still flexible on language."

Under its medical plan, the university faculty union provides coverage of health benefits for domestic partners of university personnel. About half a dozen people utilize this benefit, said the union.

In approving the university's legislative package yesterday, the Board of Regents also authorized the university to ask the Legislature to expand autonomy.

It will ask lawmakers for permission to issue revenue bonds without approval by the governor and the state Department of Budget and Finance.

"The medical school project was the ice-breaker," Morihara said. "They allowed us to go to the bond market and we ended up with a very good rating as far as institutions go."

Having the ability to authorize revenue bonds would give the university a quick-start method for future projects, Morihara said.

"Our plan is to use this to fund smaller, specific projects, not to take the place of what we do through the Legislature," he said. "It gives us flexibility to move projects faster. There are a whole bunch of things that could come to mind, but no specific plans."

Morihara said such authorization freedom would give the university flexibility to move quickly, and take the pressure off the Legislature to come up with financing for everything. But he also said UH would work cooperatively with the Legislature to finance larger projects jointly.

The university also wants to establish a civil service system for blue-collar employees at the university.