Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2246 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for a grant-in-aid to Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial Inc. to plan, build, and operate a combined veterans center and veterans home in Hawaii county.

Your Committee finds that veterans on the neighbor islands do not enjoy the same level of medical treatment and support that is provided on Oahu. Accordingly, this measure will provide a permanent, safe, and centralized location for delivering needed services to the veteran community on the Big Island.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation figure to a blank amount. Your Committee has also amended this measure by clarifying that the appropriation of general obligation bonds is in the public interest and for the public health, safety, and general welfare of the State, in addition to the fact that the bonds are being issued to make a grant-in-aid.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2246, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2246, S.D. 1.