HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2008

 

COMMITTEE ON LABOR & PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

Rep. Alex M. Sonson, Chair

Rep. Bob Nakasone, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Cindy Evans

Rep. Joseph M. Souki

Rep. Sharon E. Har

Rep. Dwight Y. Takamine

Rep. Marilyn B. Lee

Rep. Roy M. Takumi

Rep. Sylvia Luke

Rep. Colleen Rose Meyer

Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey

Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine

Rep. Scott Y. Nishimoto

 

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Friday, February 8, 2008

TIME:

8:30 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 309

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

HB 2348

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Imposes the state income tax on rollovers made by state and county employees from qualifying deferred compensation plans to eligible state or county retirement plans.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2459

RELATING TO PENSION INCOME.

Exempts the first $100,000 in pension income from state income taxes.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 3083

RELATING TO FEDERAL TAX QUALIFICATION OF THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Repeals the provisions that (1) make ERS membership by elective officers optional and (2) allow elective officer and judges to withdraw from ERS membership by nominally retiring even though they remain in office. Provides for service by retirants as elective officers without suspension of retirement benefits.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2336

RELATING TO RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE.

Increases the retirement allowance for certain public safety oriented positions under the state employees' retirement system from 2-1/2 to 3% for each year of credited service.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2710

RELATING TO THE RE-EMPLOYMENT OF RETIREES.

Allows a county to hire retired state or county government employees without restriction as to length of employment or number of hours worked per week.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2848

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

Permits state and county governments to rehire retired employees as permanent employees without affecting the rehired retirees' retirement benefits.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 3082

RELATING TO EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Requires government employers to provide information to the ERS electronically. Provides for direct deposit of refunds and other lump sum payments. Clarifies that contributions for unpaid leaves are required for service credit. Conforms provision re compensation of ERS member on military leave to USERRA.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 3247

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Allows police officers a retirement allowance of five percent of the retirees average final compensation for each year of service as a police officer.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 3287

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Allows members without vested benefit status in the employees' retirement system who return to service to continue accumulating service credit as if no break in service had occurred.  Requires the State to pay the entire base monthly contribution into the employer-union health benefits trust fund for retirees hired prior to 7/1/96 who cumulatively accrue, either prior to or after a break in service of any duration, a total of at least 10 years of credited service.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2827

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND.

Specifies that legislative appropriations to the trust fund do not revert to the general fund.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2583, HD1

(HSCR71-08)

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

Requires proposed compensation or any change in compensation for administrative positions in the UH system filled by excluded employees under chapter 89C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, be disclosed no later than 6 business days before any open meeting, and in open meeting for purposes of public comment.  Prohibits the UH Board of Regents (BOR) from withholding recommendations, draft documents, proposals, suggestions, or other opinion materials that comprise part of the deliberative process by which the BOR formulates its decisions and policies.  (HB2583 HD1)

 

HED, LAB, JUD

HB 2368, HD1

(HSCR45-08)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Directs the DOE and Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to work collaboratively to align state and federal teacher licensure requirements; reduces the years an individual may be employed as a teacher on an emergency basis from 4 to 3; allows unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis before the effective date of the Act to become licensed no later than four years from the date of their employment.  (HB2368 HD1)

 

EDN, LAB, FIN

HB 2481

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Repeals the sunset date for voluntary employees' beneficiary association trusts pilot program established pursuant to Act 245, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, as amended.  Amends the voluntary employees' beneficiary association trust law to reflect permanent nature of the program.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2753

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COST ITEMS.

Provides fund authorizations and appropriations for salary increases for unit 5 employees for fiscal year 2008-2009.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2755

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Re-opens election and membership into class H until 7/1/09.

 

LAB, FIN

HB 2792, HD1

(HSCR75-08)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Education to provide wage adjustments for substitute teachers comparable to the wage adjustments negotiated for teachers in collective bargaining unit 5.  Allows BOE to adjust hours, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment for substitute teachers.  (HB2792 HD1)

 

EDN, LAB, FIN

HB 3072

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION.

Rename the state post-secondary education commission to the Hawaii higher education commission, broaden the membership, and expand the powers and authority.

 

HED, LAB, FIN

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:

·     Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

·     The Committee the comments are directed to;

·     The date and time of the hearing;

·     Measure number; and

·     The number of copies the Committee is requesting. 

 

While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed to the incorrect office, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

 

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER:   5 copies (including an original) to Room 424 in the State Capitol; or

FAX:        For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-6211 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (Neighbor Islands).

EMAIL:   For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to [email protected].

 

Testimony submitted will be placed on the Legislative Web site after the hearing adjourns.  This public posting of testimony on the Web site should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6520 or email your request for an interpreter to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements.  Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

Selected meetings are broadcast live.  Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" Web site at www.capitoltv.org OR call 550-8074.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Alex M. Sonson

Chair