HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
670 |
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 1 |
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 88, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart C of part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§88- Forfeiture
of benefits; felony convictions.
(a) If a member, former
member, or retirant is convicted of a felony and the court finds that, by a
preponderance of the evidence, the felony is related to the employment of the
member, former member, or retirant by the State or any county, the court may
decree pursuant to section 706-605(8), a civil penalty of forfeiture by the
member, former member, or retirant of one-half of any:
(1) Interest;
(2) Hypothetical account balance in excess of the amount representing any employee contributions made by or on behalf of the member, former member, or retirant;
(3) Pension;
(4) Annuity; or
(5) Retirement allowance,
to which the member, former member, or retirant may otherwise be entitled under this chapter; provided that upon the death of the member, former member, or retirant, the designated beneficiary of the member, former member, or retirant may receive the reduced benefits to which the member, former member, or retirant would be entitled under this section; provided further that a designated beneficiary who is also convicted of a felony based on the same set of circumstances as the member, former member, or retirant who were subject to civil penalty under this section, shall not receive any benefits.
(b) Upon receipt of a certified copy of the order
decreeing forfeiture, the system shall comply with the order and shall reduce, suspend,
or deny payment to the member, former member, retirant, or designated
beneficiary, if applicable, as provided in the order until such time as the
system receives a certified order to:
(1) Increase, resume,
or make payments to the member, former member, retirant, or designated
beneficiary; or
(2) Quash or reverse
the decree of forfeiture.
The system shall not be required to make inquiry
into the propriety of the order decreeing forfeiture or recoup any payments made
to the member, former member, retirant, or designated beneficiary prior to
receipt by the system of the order decreeing forfeiture.
(c) For the purposes of this section, a felony is
"related to the employment" of an employee of the State or a county
if the employee uses or attempts to use the employee's official position to
commit the felony, including:
(1) Felonies in
which state or county time, equipment, or other facilities are used in the
commission of the felony;
(2) Bribery;
(3) Embezzlement, theft,
or other unlawful taking, receiving, retaining, or failing to account properly for,
any property or funds that belong to the State or any county, or any
department, bureau, board, or other agency thereof; or
(4) Felonies
committed against a person over whom the employee, in the course of the
employee's duties, exercises custody or supervision.
(d) This section shall not impair or diminish
benefits accrued prior to the effective date of Act ,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2021.
(e) This section shall not apply to felonies committed prior to the effective date of Act , Session Laws of Hawaii 2021.
(f) This section shall not apply to accrued retirement benefits that are non-forfeitable pursuant to sections 88-73(f), 88-281(g), and 88-331(f)."
SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Employees' Retirement System; Retirement Benefits; Felony Convictions; Forfeiture
Description:
Authorizes a court to order the forfeiture of one-half of the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) benefits of an ERS member, former member, or retirant upon conviction of the individual for a felony related to the State or county employment of the individual. Authorizes designated beneficiaries to receive the ERS benefits to which the member, former member or retirant would be entitled under this section upon the death of the member, former member, or retirant. Prohibits designated beneficiaries convicted of a felony under the same set of circumstances as the member, former member, or retirant who was subject to forfeiture of ERS benefits from receiving benefits. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.