Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1824 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the State to compensate state employees and officers on active duty in hostile fire zones the difference between their higher state pay and their military pay.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Resources Development, the Department of Defense, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and the Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association. Testimony in opposition was received from one individual.

Your Committees find that as the war on terrorism rages on, several units of the Hawaii Army National Guard and the Army Reserves have been ordered to active duty. Many of our public employees are also dedicated members of our National Guard and Army Reserves and, as a result, they and their families face multiple forms of hardship, including financial hardship due to the reduction in pay experienced as a result of their service. Your Committees further find that recruiting and retaining members of our state National Guard and Army Reserves is in the best interest of all of the citizens of Hawaii. Therefore, we must support all measures that will facilitate their ability to serve as well as encourage others to participate in such noble service.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Education and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1824, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1824, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.