STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2081

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2028

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2028 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A VETERANS CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for a grant for a capital improvement project to the Hawaii Island Veterans' Memorial, Inc.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense, Office of Veterans' Services; Hawaii Island Economic Development Board; and Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial, Inc.

     The Hawaii Island Veterans' Memorial, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation registered with the State of Hawaii that was formed from veterans groups on the island of Hawaii in 1997 for the purpose of establishing and operating a veterans center and meeting place, as well as to construct affordable housing for veterans and their dependents.  Following several years of planning, fundraising, and attempts to acquire a suitable site to establish these facilities, a parcel of state land below the campus of the University of Hawaii at Hilo was identified.  The State transferred the parcel to the County of Hawaii, which in turn leased it to the Hawaii Island Veterans' Memorial, Inc.

     The plan of the Hawaii Island Veterans' Memorial, Inc. is in two phases.  Phase one would establish and operate a multi-purpose banquet and meeting facility on the project site for the benefit of veterans groups, surrounding schools and churches, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the Hawaii Community College, and the general public.  The planned facility would also provide office and activity space for the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii Community College, the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, the Department of Education, and business and civic groups, including others in the community to host large group meetings, business roundtables, conferences, and similar functions.

     Phase two would construct affordable housing for Hawaii senior veterans and spouses as well as other eligible seniors in Hilo.

     Your Committee finds that the Big Island veterans are a special group of former military personnel who are prominently engaged in community and civic affairs.  They deserve to have a meeting facility that will also be of great benefit to the general public.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount to $1,000,000.

     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. 2028, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2028, 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