STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1048

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 613

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and 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 measure is to change and clarify the composition of the Policy Advisory Board on Veterans' Services in order to reflect the changing regional demography of veterans in the State, particularly the increase of veterans residing in West Hawaii. 

     Specifically, this measure:

     (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 as an ex-officio voting member of the Board.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Director of the Office of Veterans' Services.

     Your Committee finds that the number of veterans in the district of West Hawaii is increasing every year and in order to provide fair and necessary representation for these veterans, representation on the State Advisory Board on Veterans' Services should reflect this distinction.  To this end, it is the intent of your Committee to ensure proper representation for all veterans that reside in the State by requiring a representative from West Hawaii to serve on the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and 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 Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair