HB 2595 Summary

• Adds five new definitions to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 88 for law enforcement positions: "department of law enforcement investigator," "deputy director of the department of law enforcement," "law enforcement investigations staff investigator," "sheriff," and "sheriff division investigator."

• Classifies specified department of law enforcement employees as Class A members of the pension and retirement system effective July 1, 2023, including the director, deputy directors, investigators, the sheriff, and sheriff division investigators.

• Establishes retirement benefit calculations for law enforcement employees requiring at least ten years of credited service with the last five or more years in qualifying law enforcement positions, providing 2.5% per cent of average final compensation per year of service (capped at 80% maximum).

• Extends age reduction provisions for early retirement to include the newly classified law enforcement positions, allowing no reduction if member has 25 years of credited service in these capacities with last five years in those positions.

• Applies retroactively to July 1, 2023 upon approval.