STAND. COM. REP. NO.  818-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2445

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2445, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that a public employee whose position is privatized by an action of the State or a county remains eligible for continued participation in the pension benefits provided by the Employees' Retirement System.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, and AFL-CIO; and many individuals provided testimony in support of the measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance provided testimony in opposition.  The Employees' Retirement System and a few individuals provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2445, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair