STAND. COM. REP. 191

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1620

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1620 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide current deputy sheriffs of the Department of Public Safety the option of converting from Class C to Class A members of the Employees' Retirement System.

This bill also designates all deputy sheriffs hired after June 30, 2003 as Class A members of the Employees' Retirement System. This bill will also allow deputy sheriffs to retire without penalty after twenty-five years of service.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety and an individual. The Department of Budget and Finance submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee finds that this bill will provide deputy sheriffs with the same retirement benefits afforded to other law enforcement and safety officers who perform critical public safety functions under hazardous job conditions and will also serve to enhance recruitment and retention of deputy sheriffs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1620 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Employment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair