STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1378-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.R. No. 94

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.R. No. 94 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING AND REQUESTING A REPORT ON SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to balance the financial aims and needs of investors, including investors with the Employees' Retirement System, with an investment’s impact on society by the operations of the corporation or entity in which the investment is made by:

 

     (1)  Encouraging the Chief Investment Officer, Administrator, and trustees of the State Employees’ Retirement System to apply the principles of Socially Responsible Investment in their investment practices and decisions; and

 

     (2)  Encouraging other investment counselors and money managers to also apply the principles of Socially Responsible Investment to their investment portfolios.

 

     A concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Employees' Retirement System and Legislative Reference Bureau provided comments.  

 

     Socially Responsible Investment is the practice of basing investment decisions on considerations of societal values and concerns as well as financial returns, thus balancing the investor’s financial aims and needs with an investment’s impact on society by the operations of the corporation or entity in which the investment is made.  While socially responsible investing was initially thought of as being a hindrance to investing to achieve maximum gains, Socially Responsible Investment funds have become well established and have demonstrated their financial soundness proving that social and environmental values and standards can actually correlate with superior financial performance.

 

     While your Committee notes that the investment policies of the Employees' Retirement System currently reflect some of the intent of Socially Responsible Investment, this measure deserves further consideration and discussion.

 

     However, your Committee also notes that it does have concerns that screening out, from investment possibilities, industries that involve military weapons may eliminate a large number of investment possibilities as numerous businesses, companies, and corporations have contracts with the military or deal with military weapons in one way or another.  Your Committee also understands and notes the concerns raised by the Legislative Reference Bureau as to the exact subject matter to be contained in the report their agency is being requested to submit to the Legislature and respectfully requests the Committee on Finance to take the Legislative Reference Bureau's comments and recommendations under advisement.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 94 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair