STAND. COM. REP. NO.  788

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 613

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 613 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to equitably reflect in the membership of the Policy Advisory Board on Veterans' Services (Board) the changing regional demographic of veterans in the state, particularly the increase of veterans residing in west Hawaii.  Specifically, this bill:

     (1)  Increases the membership of the Board from seven to nine members;

     (2)  Requires that of the members:

          (A)  At least one member each shall reside in the County of Maui, County of Kauai, east Hawaii and west Hawaii; and

          (B)  Four members shall reside in the City and County of Honolulu;

          and

     (3)  Designates the Director for the Office of Veterans' Services (Director) as an ex-officio voting member of the Board.

     The Director and the Board supported this bill.

     Under current law, the Board consists of seven members.  Furthermore, each of the four counties is represented by at least one member who resides in that county.

     Your Committee finds that, to properly reflect the demographic changes among veterans in Hawaii, with an unprecedented increase of veterans moving to west Hawaii, and to ensure proper representation for all veterans in an equal manner, it is necessary to require that west Hawaii receive representation separate from that of east Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 613 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair