STAND. COM. REP. NO.  365-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2678

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2678 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the forfeiture of all compensation paid, vacation and sick leave accrued, and pension and retirement service attributed to any officer or employee for a felony offense, from the date the offense was committed through the end of the officer's or employee's employment with the State or counties.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Common Cause Hawaii and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.

 

     Your Committee finds that public service is a public trust.  It is critical for people to have confidence in the integrity of government and public employees.  When public officers and employees breach the public trust, this erodes the public's trust in the foundations of government.  Your Committee notes that this measure is an important step toward ensuring greater ethics reform in state and county government.

 

     Your Committee notes that several measures were introduced this legislative session relating to the forfeiture of pension and retirement benefits for felony offenses committed by officers or employees of the State or counties.  However, your Committee notes that this measure is a unique approach in that it amends the public service statute, rather than the statute dealing with pensions and retirement systems, to mandate the forfeiture of pension and salary benefits for felony offenses by state and county public officials.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2678, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2678, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair