Title:

ERS Benefits

Description:

Changes deputy sheriffs and noncontributory class C corrections officers with the ability to retire after 25 years of credited service, regardless of age without reduced benefits. (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

403

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the employees' retirement system.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 88-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition of "deputy sheriff" to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Deputy sheriff": an employee in the department of public safety who has been conferred police power by the director of public safety pursuant to section 353C-4 and is in a position of deputy sheriff I to V."

SECTION 2. Section 88-74.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§88-74.6[]] Unreduced allowance on service retirement; when applicable. In addition to those positions identified in section 88-74(1), and notwithstanding any law in this part that requires a member to attain age fifty-five to qualify for an unreduced service retirement allowance, if the member has at least [thirty]:

(1) Thirty years of credited service through June 30, 2003; twenty-nine years of credited service on or after July 1, 2004; twenty-eight years of credited service on or after July 1, 2005; twenty-seven years of credited service on or after July 1, 2006; twenty-six years of credited service on or after July 1, 2007; and twenty-five years of credited service on or after July 1, 2008, as an emergency medical technician[,]; or

(2) Twenty-five years of credited service on or after July 1, 2004, as a deputy sheriff;

of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service in that capacity, then upon retirement and irrespective of age, that member's service retirement allowance shall not be reduced for actuarial purposes."

SECTION 3. Section 88-281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§88-281 Service retirement. (a) A member who has ten years of credited service and has attained age sixty-two, or a member with thirty years credited service who has attained the age of fifty-five, shall become eligible to receive a retirement allowance after the member has terminated service.

(b) If a member has at least twenty-five years of credited service as a sewer worker or as a water safety officer of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited in such a capacity, then the sewer worker or water safety officer shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit unreduced for age after the member has terminated service.

(c) A member who has twenty years of credited service and has attained age fifty-five shall be eligible to receive an early retirement allowance reduced for age after the member has terminated service.

(d) A member who has ten years of credited service and terminates service prior to attaining age sixty-two shall have a vested right and shall be eligible to receive a retirement allowance when the member has attained age sixty-five.

(e) If a member has at least thirty years of credited service through June 30, 2003; twenty-nine years of credited service on or after July 1, 2004; twenty-eight years of credited service on or after July 1, 2005; twenty-seven years of credited service on or after July 1, 2006; twenty-six years of credited service on or after July 1, 2007; and twenty-five years of credited service on or after July 1, 2008, as an emergency medical technician, of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service in that capacity, the emergency medical technician shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit unreduced for age after the member has terminated service.

(f) If a member has at least twenty-five years of credited service on or after July 1, 2004, as a corrections officer or deputy sheriff, of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service in that capacity, the corrections officer or deputy sheriff shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit unreduced for age after the member has terminated service.

[(f)] (g) A member may retire upon the written application to the board, specifying the desired date of retirement, which shall be not less than thirty days nor more than one hundred fifty days subsequent to the date of filing. Retirement shall be effective on the first day of a month, except for the month of December when retirement on the first or last day of the month shall be allowed.

[(g)] (h) In the event of the death of a member after the date of the filing of the member's written application to retire, but prior to the effective date of retirement, the designated beneficiary, otherwise the personal representative of the member's estate shall receive the allowance payable under the option selected by the member; provided that the member meets the eligibility requirements to retire on the member's date of death. The designated beneficiary shall be eligible for a retirement benefit no earlier than thirty days from the date the application was filed or the day following the member's date of death, whichever is later. Retirement benefits shall be effective on the first day of a month, except for the month of December when benefits shall be effective on the first or last day of the month."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.