STAND. COM. REP. 1057
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: S.B. No. 1050
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to require the State to pay a deceased World War II Filipino American veteran's funeral and burial costs and the cost of transporting the remains to the Philippines, and to provide that payment shall be made directly to the mortuary or crematory providing services and transport.
The Philippine Scouts Composite Army of the United States testified in support of this bill. The Department of Defense also supported this measure, provided that its passage does not impact its priorities in the Executive Budget. The Fil-Am Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary, Hawaii Chapter, supported the intent of this bill, and the Department of Accounting and General Services offered comments.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by deleting its substance and inserting language that:
(1) Requires the Office of Veterans' Services (OVS) to provide grants that shall not exceed $2,500 to reimburse a deceased World War II Filipino veteran's (veteran) survivor or an interested party for funeral and burial expenses or the cost of transporting the remains to the Philippines;
(2) Specifies that eligibility for the Veterans Burial Grant Program shall include the requirement that a veteran was, at the time of death, a Hawaii resident as evidenced by valid documentation of residence, or a Hawaii driver's license or identification card;
(3) Requires OVS to complete processing any application for a burial grant and to make a determination of eligibility within seven working days following receipt of the completed application; and
(4) Directs the OVS Director to adopt rules to implement these provisions.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,
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____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair |
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