Report Title:
Special License Plates; Iraq War Veterans; Disabled Veterans
Description:
Allows special number license plates to be issued to veterans of operation Iraqi freedom and operation enduring freedom in Afghanistan who were members of the 29th brigade Hawaii national guard, the 100th battalion, 442nd infantry reserve, or the 25th infantry division, and to all disabled veterans.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2858 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The 29th brigade combat team of the Hawaii army national guard has been serving in the Iraq war since February 2005 as part of operation Iraqi freedom. The 29th brigade includes about 575 army reservists in Hawaii, and from Guam, American Samoa, and Saipan in the 100th battalion, 442nd infantry, the famed "Go For Broke" regimen of World War II.
The troops of the 29th brigade have given up their civilian lives and jobs to fight the war in Iraq. The last time the brigade saw combat duty was in Vietnam. Similarly, members of the 25th infantry division and others risked their lives and fought for freedom in Afghanistan in operation enduring freedom.
All veterans who have been totally disabled in the service of the country have sacrificed their futures and livelihoods for the preservation of freedom and democracy.
The legislature finds that it is fitting and proper to honor Hawaii troops in the Iraq and Afghanistan war and those who have been totally disabled, by issuing a special license plate. A special license plate currently exists for Vietnam veterans.
The purpose of this Act is to create a special license plate to honor the 29th brigade and the 100th battalion 442nd infantry for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to honor disabled veterans.
SECTION 2. Section 249-9.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
"(a) In lieu of the number plates contracted on behalf of the counties by the director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu, the director of finance shall provide for a fee, one set of special number plates upon the receipt of an application together with:
(1) Specific proof that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart by the United States Department of Defense for wounds received in military or naval combat against an armed enemy of the United States;
(2) Certification that the applicant is a veteran;
(3) Specific proof that the applicant was serving the United States in the military or as a civilian, on Oahu, or offshore at a distance of not more than three miles at the time of the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Certification from the Hawaii state chairperson of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association shall constitute sufficient proof;
(4) Specific proof that the applicant was confined as a prisoner of war while providing military service to the United States; or
(5) Certification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the state office of veterans' services that the applicant is a [combat]:
(A) Combat veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, the Korean conflict, World War II, [or] the Persian Gulf conflict[.], or the 29th brigade combat team of Hawaii (including the 100th battalion, 442nd infantry reserve) in operation Iraqi freedom or the 25th infantry division and others in operation enduring freedom in Afghanistan; or
(B) Veteran who is receiving or entitled to receive disability compensation at the rate of one hundred per cent for total service-connected disability.
(b) The design of the plates for:
(1) Purple heart recipients shall include the words "COMBAT WOUNDED";
(2) Veterans shall include the word "VETERAN";
(3) Pearl Harbor survivors shall include the words "PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR";
(4) Former prisoners of war shall include the words "FORMER PRISONER OF WAR";
(5) Combat veterans shall include the words "COMBAT VETERAN";
(6) Veterans of the Vietnam conflict shall include the words "VIETNAM VETERAN";
(7) Veterans of the Korean conflict shall include the words "KOREA VETERAN";
(8) Veterans of World War II shall include the words "WORLD WAR II VETERAN"; [and]
(9) Veterans of the Persian Gulf conflict shall include the words "PERSIAN GULF VETERAN"[.];
(10) Veterans of the 29th brigade combat team of the Hawaii army national guard, including those army reservists in the 100th battalion, 442nd infantry, who served in operation Iraqi freedom and veterans of the 25th brigade who served in operation enduring freedom in Afghanistan, shall include the words "29th BRIGADE OIF," "100th 442nd INFANTRY OIF," or "25th INFANTRY OEF," as applicable to the veteran; and
(11) Veterans rendered totally disabled due to service-connected illness or disability shall include the words "DISABLED VETERAN."
These designations shall be imprinted on the left side of the license plates in a manner similar to congressional and honorary consul license plates."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on October 1, 2006.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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