Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 54 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow any elective officer who attains the age of sixty-five to retire and receive a service retirement allowance while continuing to fill an elective position.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, one Honolulu City Council member, one Kauai County Council member, and two Maui County Council members. The Employees' Retirement System submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that under the current law, only members of the Legislature are eligible to receive pensions upon attaining the age of sixty-five while continuing to serve in elective positions. However, no similar right is afforded to the executive branch or to elected officials at the county level. Your Committee determines that in order to provide parity among elected officials throughout the State, this same right should be extended to include all elective officers, as defined under section 88-21. This amendment to the law will serve to provide equity as well as attract a more diverse group of candidates for elected public service.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2050 to facilitate further discussion on the matter.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 54, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 54, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.