STAND. COM. REP. NO.  508-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2848

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2848 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the state and county governments provide needed public service by maintaining a qualified, stable, and experienced workforce.  Specifically, this bill authorizes the rehiring of state or county employees who have retired for any critical-to-fill or labor shortage position, without affecting the receipt of their retirement benefits and without accruing additional credit or benefits.

     The Judiciary, Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu, and Department of Education testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Human Resources Development and Employees Retirement System submitted comments.

     During this time of low unemployment and increased competition for the best and brightest employee candidates to fill positions in the workforce, it is often difficult for the state and county governments to fill positions.  The filling of these positions is often necessary so that the state and county governments can continue to operate with a qualified and stable workforce.  Rehiring retirees for hard-to-fill positions will help to achieve this goal and allow newer employees to gain further experience and expertise in these fields so that they can permanently fill these positions at a later date.

    Although your Committee understands concerns that were raised with regard to possible "double dipping" and that safeguards against abuse of the system were needed, the maintaining of a qualified workforce is important.  Your Committee believes this matter deserves further consideration and discussion.  Accordingly, this bill has been amended by changing its effective date to July 1, 2059, to encourage further discussion.

Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2848, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2848, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair