Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2215, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow an employee who receives a special retirement incentive benefit to be reemployed by the State, without forfeiture of benefits, on a contract-for-service basis for a period not to exceed one year.

Your Committee finds that Part V of Act 253, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, allowed certain employees to qualify for a special retirement incentive benefit of an additional two years of service credit that would be applied to their pensions. If the employee accepted the special retirement benefit, the terms of acceptance precluded the employee from being reemployed by the State, unless the employee forfeited all benefits derived from the special retirement incentive benefit prior to commencement of reemployment. Your Committee further finds that several departments and agencies within the State are experiencing a shortage of qualified personnel, due in part to the exodus of its current workforce. Your Committee determines that retirees possess invaluable knowledge, skills, and experience that should be utilized when possible. Therefore, your Committee finds that it is necessary and proper to allow these retired individuals to return to service on a contract basis, with certain limitations, in order to address current staffing issues and to provide for efficient and effective government operation.

Your Committee has amended the measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2215, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2215, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.