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HB1809 • 2026

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
MIYAKE, AMATO, CHUN, EVSLIN, GEDEON, GRANDINETTI, ILAGAN, KAHALOA, KILA, KITAGAWA, KUSCH, MATSUMOTO, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, PIERICK, POEPOE, REYES ODA, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS, WOODSON, Matayoshi
Last action
2026-01-26
Official status
Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Rules for Rehiring Retired Public Employees

This bill allows the state and counties to temporarily rehire retired public employees in positions that are unique and critical to government operations.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the State and counties to hire back retired public workers if their jobs are very important for running the government smoothly.
  • Requires employers to pay into a pension fund when they bring back retired workers.
  • Limits how long these rehired retirees can work, not more than four years total.
  • Needs annual reports from human resources about who is being brought back and what jobs they do.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Retired public employees
  • State and county governments

Terms To Know

retirant
A retired person who used to work for the government
pension accumulation fund
A special account where money is saved to pay retirees' benefits

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many people might be rehired or what specific jobs will qualify.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-26 H

    Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1

  2. 2026-01-23 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. 2026-01-22 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.
Public Employees; Retirants
Authorizes the State and counties to temporarily rehire retired public employees to fill positions identified as unique and critical to government operations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB1809

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1809

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the employment of retirants
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the reemployment
of retirees for unique and crucial positions in the State will assist in stabilizing
governmental operations, preserving expertise and institutional knowledge, and
supporting workforce training and succession planning.

����
The purpose of this Act is to authorize the
State and counties to temporarily rehire retired public employees in positions
that are identified as unique and critical to government operations.
�

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 88-9,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

����
1.
�

By amending subsection (d) to read:

����
"
(d)
�
A retirant may be employed without
reenrollment in the system and suffer no loss or interruption of benefits
provided by the system or under chapter 87A if the retirant is employed:

����
(1)
�
As an elective
officer pursuant to section 88-42.6(c) or as a member of the legislature
pursuant to section 88-73(d);

����
(2)
�
As a juror or
precinct official;

����
(3)
�
As a part-time or
temporary employee excluded from membership in the system pursuant to section
88-43, as a session employee excluded from membership in the system pursuant to
section 88-54.2[
[
],[
]
] or as any other employee expressly
excluded by law from membership in the system; provided that:

���������
(A)
�
The retirant was
not employed by the State or a county during the six calendar months prior to
the first day of reemployment; and

���������
(B)
�
No agreement was
entered into between the State or a county and the retirant, prior to the
retirement of the retirant, for the return to work by the retirant after
retirement;

����
(4)
�
In a position
identified by the appropriate jurisdiction as a labor shortage or
difficult-to-fill position; provided that:

���������
(A)
�
The retirant was
not employed by the State or a county during the twelve calendar months prior
to the first day of reemployment;

���������
(B)
�
No agreement was
entered into between the State or a county and the retirant, prior to the
retirement of the retirant, for the return to work by the retirant after
retirement; and

���������
(C)
�
Each employer
shall contribute to the pension accumulation fund the required percentage of
the rehired retirant's compensation to amortize the system's unfunded actuarial
accrued liability; [
or
]

����
(5)
�
As a teacher or an
administrator in a teacher shortage area identified by the department of
education or in a charter school or as a mentor for new classroom teachers;
provided that:

���������
(A)
�
The retirant was
not employed by the State or a county during the twelve calendar months prior
to the first day of reemployment;

���������
(B)
�
No agreement was
entered into between the State or a county and the retirant prior to the
retirement of the retirant, for the return to work by the retirant after
retirement; and

���������
(C)
�
The department of
education or charter school shall contribute to the pension accumulation fund
the required percentage of the rehired retirant's compensation to amortize the
system's unfunded actuarial accrued liability[
.
]
; or

����
(6)
�
In a position
identified by the appropriate jurisdiction as unique and critical to
operations; provided that:

���������
(A)
�
The
retirant was not employed by the State or a county during the twelve calendar
months prior to the first day of reemployment;

���������
(B)
�
No
agreement was entered into between the State or a county and the retirant prior
to the retirement of the retirant, for the return to work by the retirant after
their retirement;

���������
(C)
�
The
employer shall contribute to the pension accumulation fund the required
percentage of the rehired retirant's compensation to amortize the system's
unfunded actuarial accrued liability; and

���������
(D)
�
The
term of employment shall not exceed a period of four years in total.
"

����
2.
�
By amending subsection (f) to read:

����
"
(f)
�
No later than twenty days prior to the
convening of each regular legislative session, the director of human resources
of the appropriate state jurisdiction or the human resources management chief
executive of each county shall submit an annual report to the legislature
detailing the employment of retirants under paragraphs (4)
,
[
and
]
(5)
, and (6)
of subsection (d), including the number and positions of
retirants."

����
SECTION
3.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Public
Employees; Retirants

Description:

Authorizes
the State and counties to temporarily rehire retired public employees to fill
positions identified as unique and critical to government operations.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.