STAND. COM. REP. NO. 226

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 806

       S.D. 1

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. 806 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF VETERANS' SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide additional clerical support for the Office of Veterans Services by establishing one full-time permanent clerk typist II position within the Office of Veterans Services.

     The measure appropriates $33,230 for each fiscal year of the biennium, to fund the establishment of one permanent full-time clerk typist position.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Advisory Board on Veterans Services and the Office of Veterans Services.

     Your Committee finds that the Office of Veterans Services is the principal agency in the State responsible for the development and management of policies and programs for veterans and their families.  The Office also acts as a liaison between the Governor and the veterans groups and organizations and serves as an intermediary between the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans and their family members.  The continuous return of troops from the Middle East and the eventual discharge of once-active military personnel in Hawaii have caused a huge backlog of unprocessed documents that is expected to continue if not immediately addressed.  An additional clerk is needed to augment the limited support staff to allow the Office of Veterans Services to handle the growing number of discharge documents requiring immediate action.

     Your Committee further finds that in order for the Office of Veterans Services to better serve the neighboring islands, it is necessary to provide funding for a travel allowance shortfall for the counselor position that was created in last year's operating budget.

     Your Committee amended this measure to appropriate $8,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008, for a travel allowance shortfall for the counselor position created in last year's operational budget.

     It is the intent of your Committee to continue to support the Office of Veterans Services by establishing one full-time permanent clerk typist II position within the Office of Veterans Services and provide funding for a travel allowance shortfall for the counselor position created last year.

     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. 806, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 806, S.D. 1, 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