STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2330

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 2303

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2303 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS' SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the salary of the Director of the Office of Veterans' Services to an amount equal to seventy-four percent of the salary of the Director of Human Resources Development.

This measure also appropriates funds for the salary increase for fiscal year 2006-2007.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Defense, the Advisory Board on Veterans Services, and the Oahu Veterans Council.

Your Committees find that in 2004 the Executive Salary Commission adjusted the salary levels for deputy directors within the State. However, although the salary level for the Director of the Office of Veterans' Services had not been adjusted for more than a decade, it was established by statute and beyond the review of the Executive Salary Commission. Subsequently, pursuant to Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, the Legislature statutorily amended the Director's salary to an amount not to exceed sixty-nine percent of the salary of the Director of Human Resources Development. However, the salary of the Director is currently exceeded by the salary of one of the Director's subordinates, as other employees of the Office of Veterans' Services subordinate to the Director have been receiving periodic pay increases over the years. Your Committees further find that the duties of the Director have and will continue to increase, particularly with the increasing number of veterans as personnel continue to return from tours in Iraq. Accordingly, the salary of the Director should be increased to be the highest salary within the office, as well as reflective of the responsibilities, experience, and qualifications necessary for the position.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Transportation and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2303 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Transportation and Government Operations,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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BRIAN KANNO, Chair