STAND. COM. REP. NO. 279

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1044

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 S.B. No. 1044 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A VETERANS CENTER ON THE ISLAND OF MOLOKAI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and to appropriate the proceeds thereof to the Department of Defense for a veterans center on the island of Molokai.

     This measure appropriates $2,746,000 in general obligation bond revenues in fiscal year 2007-2008, for the design, construction, and equipping of the Molokai Veterans Center.

     This measure also appropriates $2,965,000 in general revenues for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the Molokai Veterans Center.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Defense and the Maui County Council.

     Your Committee finds that there are approximately six hundred veterans currently residing on the island of Molokai.  Some of these veterans have just returned from deployment where they served honorably with the 29th Infantry Brigade of the Hawaii National Guard.  The existing Molokai Veterans Center is located in Kaunakakai in a small aging commercial building next to a food establishment.  The Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans leases this small space to allow its veterans to meet and discuss important issues.  A permanent facility will allow Molokai veterans to receive important programs and services regarding their benefits without requiring them to travel to another island

     It is the intent of your Committee to appropriate funding for a veterans center on the island of Molokai to ensure that the veterans have access to information and services regarding their benefits. 

     Your Committee recommends, for the purposes of clarity and style, that the Committee on Ways and Means amend the measure by replacing the last sentence in section 3 to read as follows:  "The sums appropriated in sections 1 and 2 shall be expended by the department of defense for the purposes of this Act."

     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 S.B. No. 1044 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair