STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3015

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2919

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2919, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure parity of retirement benefits by amending the definition of "sewer worker" for the purposes of the Employees' Retirement System law.

     More specifically, this measure adds the following classification titles to the definition of "sewer worker":

     (1)  Sewer maintenance working supervisor;

     (2)  Wastewater collection system inspection supervisor;

     (3)  Wastewater collection system district supervisor;

     (4)  Wastewater collection system field services supervisor; and

     (5)  Other classification titles that are not listed in the definition of "sewer worker" that perform substantially the same work as those that are listed in the definition.

     Your Committee finds that this measure adds to the definition of "sewer worker" supervisory employees who are exposed to the same hazards as their subordinates.  Your Committee further finds that this measure will assist in recruiting candidates for supervisory positions, as they will now continue to have the option of retiring after twenty-five years of service.  Your Committee also finds that this measure treats similar employees equally, by providing employees with classification titles that are similar to the ones listed in the definition of "sewer worker," but not specifically listed in the definition, with similar benefits under the Employees' Retirement System law.

     The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making technical amendments to conform the text of the statute that is being amended to the printed version of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 3, 2055, to facilitate further discussion of this measure.

     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 H.B. No. 2919, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2919, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair