STAND. COM. REP. NO.  349

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 618

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 618 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY RESERVE COMPONENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a special fund to reimburse members of the Hawaii National Guard and federal military reserves for the cost of qualifying premiums under the federally created service members' group life insurance program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Defense, the Hawaii National Guard Association, the National Guard Association of Hawaii Insurance Trust, the Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association, and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on the measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that insurance premium reimbursements from the Sergeant Deyson Cariaga service members' life insurance reimbursement special fund will provide incentives to the Hawaii National Guard or federal military reserve members to continue service even after their return from active duty in a war zone.  Your Committee further finds that retaining trained personnel will maintain the readiness capability of the Hawaii National Guard and the federal military reserves.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by appropriating general funds into the special fund, and by making an appropriation out of the special fund for the purposes of the measure.  Your Committee has also amended this bill by changing the effective date from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2015 in order to promote continued discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 618, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 618, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair