House and Senate lawmakers passed two bills Friday in conference committee to force the state to tackle its multi-billion-dollar unfunded liabilities problem.

Hawaii is decades behind in pre-paying the health and retirement benefits promised to thousands of state and county workers. 

The bills would give more than $1 million to a task force to study the issue and set a timetable to make employers pay 100 percent of the required post-employment benefits by 2018.

The comprehensive legislation comes on the heels of budget negotiators agreeing to put $217 million into the retirement and health funds over the next two years.

Luis Salaveria, state deputy budget director, said after the hearing that the administration really liked the contents of House Bill 546 but believes Senate Bill 946 will also help address unfunded liabilities.

He said the two-year process of educating lawmakers and others on the importance of taking action on this issue seems to have finally paid off. He said the passage of both bills will bring Hawaii to the forefront nationally in terms of states trying to get a handle on unfunded liabilities.

Rep. Romy Cachola, a strong advocate for the legislation, said after the hearing that the bills will ultimately help save taxpayers money.

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— Nathan Eagle