STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3163

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2395

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make Hawaii National Guard service members activated by the Governor or the Governor's designated representative to state active duty ineligible for enrollment in the Employees' Retirement System based on the active duty.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense and Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Employees' Retirement System.

Your Committees find that during the August 2023 Maui wildfires, the Hawaii National Guard servicemembers who were called to active duty by the Governor and Adjutant General played a crucial role in ensuring the success of Lahaina's response missions. Your Committees further find that Hawaii National Guard servicemembers face financial burdens with the mandatory enrollment in the Employees' Retirement System due to the temporary nature of their work for the State. This measure will grant financial flexibility to National Guard servicemembers by exempting them from mandatory payments into the Employees' Retirement System.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2042, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Labor and Technology,

________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair