Appropriates funds for the construction of phase II of the Oahu Veterans Center.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 1995, the legislature passed a grant-in-aid in the amount of $2.8 million to design and construct a veteran's center. The moneys could not be used for the acquisition of land, and that restriction led to a delay of approximately eight years while the Oahu Veterans Council attempted to find a suitable parcel of land for the center.

The legislature also finds that after two failed attempts to find suitable property, the Council recently signed a long-term lease agreement with the Foster Village Community Association to place the center within the community. Construction costs, however, increased dramatically over the eight-year span. Because of insufficient funds, the council made the decision to build the project in two phases. Phase I is currently underway. Phase II will be built when sufficient funds are raised. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to assist with the construction of the final phase of the veteran's center.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $850,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the construction of Phase II of the Oahu Veteran's Center.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of defense for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.