STAND. COM. REP. NO. 22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 670

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 670 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the forfeiture of certain Employees' Retirement System benefits, pursuant to court order, for state or county employees and designated beneficiaries who are convicted of an employment-related felony.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Common Cause Hawaii, Indivisible Hawaii, and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Employees' Retirement System.

Your Committee finds that public officers and employees are responsible for upholding the public's trust in government and democracy. The public's belief in government and democracy become strained when public officers and employees participate in misconduct in their employment, while maintaining the benefits of their employment. This measure will demonstrate that the State takes the ethics of its employees seriously.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 670, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 670, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Tourism,

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair