STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1458

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 912

S.D. 1

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 912, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, 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 deter corruption of government officials and employees by authorizing the forfeiture of one half of certain employees' retirement system benefits, pursuant to court order, for members convicted of an employee-related felony.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, and seven 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. Your Committee further finds that the public's trust becomes strained when public officers and employees participate in misconduct during their employment but are still able to keep the benefits from their employment.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 912, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair