Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2416, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow individuals who have retired from public service to be rehired for critical-to-fill or labor shortage positions by the State or a county without the loss or suspension of retirement benefits.

The measure also requires that, to qualify for rehiring, the retirant must have been retired for at least one calendar year prior to being rehired.

Your Committee finds that the current labor pool is decreasing in Hawaii, yet the need for qualified individuals to work for the state and county governments remains constant. Your Committee recognizes that the changing demographics of the current workforce have resulted in an aging workforce, with many workers becoming eligible for retirement with full benefits. The utilization of retired government employees will provide a short- and long-term solution to the current workforce deficits that have been created by an increased number of retirements, positions in a labor shortage category, and positions categorized as hard-to-fill.

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 S.B. No. 2416, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2416, S.D. 2.