STAND. COM. REP. NO.  464

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 170

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 170, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to recognize the sacrifices made by members of the armed services by exempting certain totally and permanently disabled veterans from paying the State motor vehicle registration fee.

 

     The Military Officers Association of America, Hawaii Chapter; National Association for Uniformed Services, Hawaii Chapter; and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The State Office of Veterans Services supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Transportation opposed this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

 

     Your Committee recognizes the service and sacrifice of this nation's veterans, especially those permanently disabled veterans that have honored this nation with their service and selfless duty.  However, your Committee notes that concerns were expressed regarding the lack of information on the number of individuals eligible for this exemption, and the resulting fiscal impact of this measure.  Moreover, your Committee has grave concerns regarding the financial fairness of this measure, because there may be permanently disabled veterans who are in financial need of this measure, and those who are not.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by adding an additional requirement that a disabled veteran is earning an annual income below an unspecified amount as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in order to be eligible for the exemption.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for style, clarity, and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 170, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 170, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair