SB2868 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 88-93.5 to clarify procedures and requirements for Hawaii Domestic Relations Orders (HDROs) affecting employee retirement benefits.

• Allows spouses or former spouses to request benefit information from the retirement system upon submission of either a certified divorce complaint or certified divorce decree (previously required only the complaint).

• Clarifies that the system's review notification for proposed orders is advisory only and does not constitute a formal determination that an order is or is not a qualified HDRO.

• Establishes that the priority of multiple HDROs is determined by the order certified copies are received by the system, not by court entry date, divorce filing date, or date of marriage.

• Specifies that payments to alternate payees are considered benefits received by the retirant for purposes of income limitations and benefit calculations under Hawaii retirement law.