Report Title:

Honolulu Police Department Package; Public Employees

Description:

Authorizes the State and counties to rehire retired employees as permanent workers, without the retirees incurring any negative impact to their normal retirement benefits.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2577
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to public employees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to allow the state and counties to rehire retired employees as permanent workers in critical-to-fill positions or positions vacant due to a labor shortage without the retirees incurring any negative impact to their normal retirement benefits.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 88, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§88‑   Reemployment of state and county retirees. (a)  Hiring authorities in the state and county governments may employ a retired state or county employee who is receiving retirement benefits under this chapter in critical-to-fill positions or positions that are vacant due to a labor shortage.  A retiree subject to this section shall be recruited and selected for civil service positions under the requirements of chapter 76.  The hiring authorities shall certify that the retiree was hired pursuant to the requirements of chapter 76.

(b)  To qualify for full-time employment under this section, the retiree shall be retired from a state or county government position for at least one calendar year prior to reemployment.

(c)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a retired state or county employee who is hired by the State or any county under this section shall:

(1) Not earn retirement service credit, contribute to the retirement system, or gain additional retirement benefits as a result of the retiree's subsequent employment with the State or any county; and

(2) Continue to receive the normal retirement benefits that the retiree is entitled to receive under this chapter or chapter 87A or 87D;

provided that the retired state or county employee may elect to earn retirement service credit, contribute to the retirement system, gain additional retirement benefits, or relinquish their retirement benefits pursuant to subsection (d).

(d)  This section shall not preclude a retired state or county employee from returning to work and relinquishing the retiree's retirement benefits to earn additional service credit, contribute to the retirement system, and gain additional retirement benefits for a future retirement date as may be allowed under this chapter.

(e)  For purposes of this section:

"Retired state or county employee" means any former employee of the State or any political subdivision of the State that is defined as a retirant under this chapter.

"State or county government" means the State or any political subdivision of the State."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:

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