STAND. COM. REP. NO.  69

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 580

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 580 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to assist military families in relocating and transitioning to Hawaii by establishing:

 

     (1)  A center for transition, immersion, and education under the jurisdiction of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism that will assist military members and their families transitioning to Hawaii, and assist Hawaii residents to better understand and engage with military members in the State; and

 

     (2)  The Center for Transition, Immersion, and Education Special Fund to be used for administering the center for transition, immersion, and education.

 

     The Oahu Veterans Council, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The State Department of Defense testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Budget and Finance provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a new Chapter in the Hawaii Revised Statutes relating to the State Department of Defense;

 

     (2)  Placing jurisdiction for the center for transition, immersion, and education and the Center for Transition, Immersion, and Education Special Fund under the State Department of Defense rather than the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 580, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 580, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair