STAND. COM. REP. NO.  740

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 233

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 233, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEPARATION BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove the option of choosing between a voluntary severance benefit or special retirement benefit established by Act 1, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, by offering Hawaii Health Systems Corporation employees facing position abolishment, reduction-in-force, or workforce restructuring the choice of receiving a voluntary severance benefit and a special retirement benefit or exercising a reduction-in-force right.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO and United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Resources Development, Employees' Retirement System, and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation 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. 233, 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