THE SENATE

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2007

 

COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND LABOR

Senator Clayton Hee, Chair

Senator Russell S. Kokubun, Vice Chair

 

 

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

 

 

DATE:

Thursday, March 15, 2007

TIME:

9:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 229

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

A G E N D A

 

 

 

HB 1253

HD1

(HSCR819)

RELATING TO THE HAWAII RULES OF EVIDENCE.

Makes benevolent gestures regarding a medical error inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability in medical malpractice claims.  (HB1253 HD1)

 

JDL

HB 863

HD1

(HSCR927)

RELATING TO PUBLIC WORK PROJECTS.

Clarifies that a construction contract between private parties is a public work under certain conditions, that include state or county use of more than half the project.  Requires construction project owner to sign a lease or other agreement that complies with state prevailing wage law.  Requires that copies of the lease agreement be filed with the departments of labor and industrial relations and accounting and general services.  (HB863 HD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1291

HD1

(HSCR1165)

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Allows payment of interest to noncontributory members who have ERS deductions erroneously made from their compensation.  Excludes a "foster child" from being eligible for ERS death benefits if the member dies in service.  Allows the ERS Board to set the Chief Investment Officer's salary.  Requires excess contributions to be refunded upon retirement, termination or death for judges, legislative officers and elected officials if their retirement allowance exceeds the statutory cap of 75%.  Clarifies that Hybrid Plan member contributions that are picked up by the employer are subject to the annual federal income tax limits.  Allows post retirement allowances to be paid to beneficiaries who select a monthly annuity instead of the lump sum balance or other clarifying or conforming revisions. (HB1291 HD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1292

HD1

(HSCR928)

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Repeals provisions that allow: elective officers to exercise their option to join the ERS at any time during their term of office; and elective officers and judges to withdraw from ERS membership while remaining in office.  Repeals the provisions that make ERS membership by elective officers optional and replaces those provisions with a new section that requires elective officers to exercise a one-time irrevocable option to join the ERS when they are elected for the first time (or, in the case of existing office holders, by February 1, 2008).  Sets forth the circumstances under which retirants may return to service as elective officers without suspension of retirement benefits.  Repeals the provision that allows elective officers and judges who have reached the statutory cap on retirement benefits to withdraw from ERS membership by nominally retiring even though they remain in office.  (HB1292 HD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1500

HD2

(HSCR1171)

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

Raises the maximum weekly unemployment benefit to 80% of the average weekly wage.  Changes employer's contribution rates for the fiscal year 2007-2008 to 65% of amount and thereafter to 75% of the amount.  Reduces adequate reserve fund amount after 2007.  (HB1500 HD2)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1563

(HSCR777)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for collective bargaining cost items relating to contributions to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund for state employees in unit 5, and for officers and employees of the department of education excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1564

(HSCR778)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for collective bargaining cost items relating to contributions to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund for state employees in unit 10, and for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1565

HD1

(HSCR809)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for collective bargaining cost items relating to contributions to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund for state employees in unit 1, and for officers and employees in the executive branch excluded from collective bargaining. (HB1565 HD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1566

(HSCR779)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for collective bargaining cost items relating to contributions to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund for state employees in units 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 13, and for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM


HB 1568

(HSCR781)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for salary increases and collective bargaining cost items for employees in unit 5, and for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1569

(HSCR782)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for salary increases and collective bargaining cost items for employees in unit 10, and for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1570

(HSCR783)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for salary increases and collective bargaining cost items including contributions to the Hawaii employer-union health for employees in unit 11, and for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1572

(HSCR784)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds to pay for salary increases and collective bargaining cost items for employees in unit 1, and for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1573

(HSCR785)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

Appropriates funds to pay for salary increases and collective bargaining cost items for employees in units 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 13, and for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining.

 

JDL, WAM

 


Decision Making to follow, if time permits.

 

 

Persons wishing to testify, who have not previously submitted testimony, should submit testimony in one of the following ways at least 24 hours prior to the hearing:

 

·         In person:  30 copies of their testimony to the committee clerk, Room 227, State Capitol.

 

·         By fax:  Testimony may be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands), at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  When faxing, please indicate to which committee the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the number of copies needed for submittal.

 

·         By Email:  Testimony may be emailed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Legislature's Public Access Room at [email protected].  Please indicate to which committee the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the number of copies needed for submittal.  In addition, please provide the testifier's name and mailing address in the email.  Email sent to individual offices or any other Senate office will not be accepted.

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., sign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the committee clerk 24 hours prior to the hearing so arrangements can be made.

 

Public Folder.  A folder labeled “Public Folder” containing the measures and testimonies for the hearing will be available for shared use by members of the public.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6911.

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Senator Clayton Hee

Chair