STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2005

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2447

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. 2447 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NATIONAL GUARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the uniform maintenance allowance for enlisted personnel of the Army and Air National Guard.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association; the Hawaii National Guard Association; and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

     Current law provides for an allowance of $1.50 per day, enacted by Act 49, Session Laws of Hawaii 1975, from the State to be paid while an Army or Air National Guard enlisted personnel is in annual training or year-round training, when federal pay is authorized, or when ordered to state active duty in accordance with law.  The allowance is not paid when personnel are actually called or ordered into service by the United States or under authority of the President.  This measure would increase the amount to $10 per day, not to exceed $150 per year, payable from the State.

     The intent of your Committee is to bring the maintenance allowance in line with inflation.

     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. 2447 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,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair