HB2135

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a World War II Filipino veteran who died after June 30, 1994, and who was, at the time of the veteran's death, a United States citizen and a resident of the State of Hawaii, is entitled to receive a burial grant from the state office of veterans' services to pay for the cost of:

(1) Providing funeral and burial services for the deceased veteran; and

(2) Transporting the remains of the deceased veteran to the Philippines.

To qualify for this burial grant, however, the World War II Filipino veteran's survivor or an interested party must produce an itemized paid invoice showing the specific services rendered on behalf of the deceased veteran. Because of the tremendous costs required to procure funeral and burial services, as well as the cost of transportation to the Philippines, some World War II Filipino veterans, including the families and friends of these veterans, cannot afford to pay for these activities in advance. Consequently, some World War II Filipino veterans will not be able to qualify for burial grants from the office of veterans' services because they cannot pay upfront costs associated with funeral, burial, and transportation services to be reimbursed at a later time. Because of these financial constraints, the bodies of some deceased veterans could not be properly buried until the deceased veteran's survivor or interested parties raised the necessary funds to pay the mortuary for funeral and other related services.

The legislature further finds that under the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106‑419), many World War II Filipino veterans previously eligible to participate in the state office of veterans' services program regarding transportation of remains to the Philippines are now eligible to be interred in state and federal veterans' cemeteries. The payments made under this Act shall not be limited to only those World War II Filipino veterans who are not eligible for interment in state and federal veterans cemeteries under the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000.

The purpose of this Act, through the veterans' burial grant program, is to pay directly to a mortuary or crematory the cost of:

(1) Providing funeral and burial services at the request of a qualifying deceased World War II Filipino veteran's survivor or an interested party; and

(2) Transporting the veteran's remains to the Philippines,

upon the submission of a contract for services on behalf of the deceased veteran and an itemized unpaid invoice. The amount paid for funeral and burial services and transportation costs shall not exceed $2,000 per person.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for burial grant funds for deceased World War II Filipino veterans.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of defense, office of veterans' services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2135
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII