STAND. COM. REP. NO. 634

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 499
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was
referred H.B. No. 499 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 conservation and
resources law enforcement officers with the same retirement
benefits as police officers and firefighters.

     The Hawaii Hunting Association and two conservation and
resources law enforcement officers testified in support of the
bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
supported the bill with suggested amendments.  The Libertarian
Party of Hawaii opposed the measure.  The Employees' Retirement
System submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that conservation and resources law
enforcement officers are commissioned with full police powers,
and therefore are entitled to the same retirement benefits as
other law enforcement officials.

     Your Committee has incorporated the suggested amendments
from DLNR making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the
purpose of clarity.

 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 634
                                 Page 2

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 499, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 499, H.D.
1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and Public
                                   Employment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   TERRY NUI YOSHINAGA, Chair