Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2697 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide parity to all qualified elective officers by allowing any elective officer who attains the age of 65 to retire and receive a service retirement allowance while continuing to fill their elective position.

The Chair of the City Council of the City and County of Honolulu, Chair of the Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill. The Department of Budget and Finance did not support this measure. The Employees Retirement System submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that only members of the Legislature are currently eligible to retire and receive a pension while continuing to fill elective office if they reach the age of 65. This bill would extend this benefit to all elective officers, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, county mayors, county council members, trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Prosecuting Attorney.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2697 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.