STAND. COM. REP. NO.  929

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 831

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 831, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERAN BURIAL GRANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to fund transportation costs associated with transporting the body of a World War II New Filipino Scout to the Philippines by authorizing the Office of Veterans' Services, at the request of a deceased World War II New Filipino Scout's survivor or an interested party, to receive, review, and, as appropriate, approve requests for payments for:

     (1)  Providing funeral and burial services for a New Filipino Scout who died after June 30, 1994; and

     (2)  Transporting the remains of a New Filipino Scout to the Philippines.

     The Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training, Nursing, Advocates, & Mentors, Inc., Philippine Nurses Association – Hawaii, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, and Oahu Filipino Community Council supported this bill.  The Office of Veterans Services and Advisory Board on Veterans Services supported the intent of this measure.  The Representative from the 7^th Representative District provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 831, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 831, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair