Report Title:

Filipino Veterans; Burial

 

Description:

Requires the office of veterans services, on request of a survivor/interested party of a deceased Filipino veteran who joined the New Filipino Scouts between October 6, 1945 and June 30, 1947, to make payment directly to a mortuary/crematory for funeral/burial services and to transport the remains to the Philippines, upon submission of an unpaid invoice; appropriates moneys. (SB214 HD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

214

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to veteran burial grants.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a Filipino veteran of the New Filipino Scouts who enlisted between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947, who dies after June 30, 1994, and who is, at the time of the veteran's death, a United States citizen and a resident of the State of Hawaii, is entitled to receive a burial grant from the office of veterans' services to pay for the cost of:

(1) Providing funeral and burial services for the deceased veteran; and

(2) Transporting the remains of the deceased veteran to the Philippines.

In order to qualify for this burial grant, however, the Filipino veteran's survivor or an interested party must produce an itemized paid invoice showing the specific services rendered on behalf of the deceased veteran. Because of the tremendous upfront costs associated with funeral and burial services, and transportation to the Philippines, some World War II Filipino veterans, including the families and friends of these veterans, cannot afford to pay for these activities in advance. Consequently, some World War II Filipino veterans will not be able to qualify for these burial grants from the office of veterans' services on account of their being too "poor". Because of these financial constraints, the bodies of some deceased veterans have had to "sit on ice" for weeks until the deceased veteran's survivor or interested parties could raise the necessary funds to pay the mortuary for funeral and other related services.

The legislature further finds under the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419) many of the Filipino World War II veterans previously eligible to participate in the State office of veterans services program regarding transportation of remains to the Philippines are now eligible to be interred in State and federal veterans cemeteries. Therefore, in fairness to other veterans survivors who are not offered reimbursement for such transportation needs, the payments made under this Act are properly limited to only those veterans of the New Filipino Scouts not eligible for interment in State and federal veterans cemeteries under the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000.

The purpose of this Act is to make payment directly to a mortuary or crematory for providing funeral and burial services at the request of a qualifying deceased Filipino veteran's survivor or an interested party; and for transporting the veteran's remains to the Philippines, upon the submission of a contract for services on behalf of the deceased veteran and an itemized unpaid invoice. The amount paid for funeral and burial services, and transportation costs, shall not exceed $2,500 per person.

This Act provides an alternative to the procedures currently specified in the rules of the office of veterans' services which apply in situations where a deceased Filipino veteran's survivor or an interested party has already made payment for services rendered on behalf of the deceased veteran, or in situations where the deceased veteran may have purchased a pre-paid funeral and burial plan.

SECTION 2. Chapter 363, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§363-   Disbursement of World War II Filipino veterans burial grant funds. (a) At the request of a deceased Filipino veteran's survivor or an interested party, the office shall receive, review, and, as appropriate, approve requests for payments of:

(1) Providing funeral and burial services for a deceased veteran who enlisted in the New Filipino Scouts between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947; and

(2) Transporting the remains of a deceased veteran who became a member of the New Filipino Scouts between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947, to the Philippines.

(b) The office shall establish the amount of burial grant funds that may be disbursed on behalf of a deceased veteran who became a member of the New Filipino Scouts; provided that the amount shall not exceed $2,500 per person.

(c) The office shall not expend more than the amount appropriated for the fiscal year to provide burial grants for deceased World War II Filipino veterans.

(d) Specific eligibility criteria, application and appeal procedures, service choices, and invoicing arrangements shall be established by the office.

(e) Payment shall be authorized by the office upon the submission of an invoice reflecting services that have been satisfactorily performed on behalf of the deceased veteran who became a New Filipino Scout."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 for burial grant funds for deceased Filipino veterans.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of defense, office of veterans' services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2001.