STAND. COM. REP. 2183

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2368

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2368 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow a public employee on active military duty for at least thirty days to receive the difference in pay between the employee's nonmilitary and active military pay, if the active military pay is less than the nonmilitary pay.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Resources Development, the Department of Human Resources for the City and County of Honolulu, and the Department of Personnel Services for the County of Maui.

The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committees find that Hawaii is fortunate to have as citizens and to employ individuals who not only nobly serve their State, but their country as well. Your Committees further find that the contributions and sacrifices of these individuals are great and should not go unrecognized. Members of the National Guard or the Reserves who are called to active duty for extended periods often suffer financial difficulties as a result of their service; therefore, allowances or accommodations should be made in order to assist these individuals in any way possible. Your Committees determine that these individuals should be compensated for the difference in nonmilitary and active military pay while on active duty for at least thirty days to alleviate the financial burden imposed by the fulfillment of their call to service.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2368 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

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CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

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BRIAN KANNO, Chair