STAND. COM. REP. 37

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 319

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 319 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide for an optional retirement plan for employees of the University of Hawaii (UH).

UH and the UH Professional Assembly submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Hawaii Government Employees Association submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill with proposed amendments. The Department of Budget and Finance submitted testimony in opposition to this bill but noted that they would support the bill if it could be shown to be cost neutral.

Your Committee finds that most state university systems provide an optional retirement program that is separate from that provided by the State. As UH has recruiting needs that vary drastically from those of other state agencies, UH requires additional incentives to be able to compete with other institutions for faculty members.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Including appointees of the UH Board of Regents among those who may elect to enroll in the optional retirement plan; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 319, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 319, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Employment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

 

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair