STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2946

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1564

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1564, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the counties to obtain approval from the Office of Veterans' Services prior to any action that may negatively impact the State's ability to fulfill its obligation to establish and maintain veterans' cemeteries or impair the allocation of federal funds.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense Civil Defense Division; Advisory Board to the Office of Veterans' Services; Military Officers Association of America, Hawaii Chapter; and Office of Veterans Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State recognizes the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States and continues to honor their memory by maintaining a statewide network of veterans' cemeteries.  The Office of Veterans' Services oversees the statewide network of veterans' cemeteries.  While the counties have generally met the requirements set forth by the Office of Veterans' Services, to ensure the allocation of federal funds, the counties must comply with all federal requirements.  This measure promotes greater compliance by the counties and awareness of the potential implications of the counties' actions on the State and the receipt of federal funds.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1564, H.D. 1 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair