STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3708

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2395

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt from enrollment in the Employees' Retirement System members of the Hawaii National Guard who are ordered into active duty to provide services to the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense.

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

Your Committee finds that members of the Hawaii National Guard who are not also state or county employees may ultimately never vest in, or benefit from, the State's retirement system. This measure will allow these servicemembers to retain more of their earned compensation by exempting them from mandatory enrollment in the Employees' Retirement System.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making the measure effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2395, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair