HB2808 HD1 HSCR95-02

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.95-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2808

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2808 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) worker to retire and receive retirement benefits after at least 25 years of credited service.

The United Public Workers, Honolulu Emergency Services Department, and many EMS personnel testified in support of this measure. Several EMS personnel supported the intent of this measure.

The Department of Budget and Finance submitted testimony in opposition of this measure. The Employees' Retirement System submitted comments.

Your Committee strongly believes that EMS medical personnel deserve the same benefit of retirement after a minimum of 25 years of service that is offered to police officers, firefighters, and other county employees who face potentially dangerous situations on a daily basis.

 

 

Your Committee understands that there are some unresolved labor issues in this bill regarding which retirement plan EMS employees belong in, but believes this should be addressed by the Committee on Labor and Public Employment.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Specifying that the measure applies only to EMS workers who provide direct patient care; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2808, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2808, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Employment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

		____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair