STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1292-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.C.R. No. 48

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 48 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOW NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND MILITARY RESERVISTS WITH TWENTY OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE TO RETIRE WITH FULL RETIREMENT BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the federal government to allow National Guard and reserve members with 20 or more years of service to retire with full retirement benefits.

The Department of Defense (DOD), The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association, Hawaii National Guard Association, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee recognizes that the dedication and commitment of National Guard and military reserve members does come at the cost of disrupting these citizen-soldiers and their families personal and professional lives.

Additionally, DOD realizes a disparity in that National Guard and reserve members must wait to the age of 60 before receiving their benefits. However, a member of the active military with 20 or more years of service receives a pension immediately upon retirement.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

(1) Clarifying that the federal government is requested to allow members with 20 years of experience to retire with full benefits at age 55;

(2) Amending the title to read: "REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOW NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND MILITARY RESERVISTS WITH TWENTY OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE TO RETIRE WITH FULL RETIREMENT BENEFITS AT AGE FIFTY-FIVE"; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for consistency, clarity, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 48, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 48, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair