STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2677

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 Ways and Means, 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 members of the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard.

     Specifically, this measure increases the amount of the uniform maintenance allowance provided by the State to enlisted personnel in the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard from $1.50 per day to $10.00 per day, but not to exceed $150 per year.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, the Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association, and the Hawaii National Guard Association.

     Your Committee finds that the uniform maintenance allowance applies during annual training or year-round training, when federal pay is authorized, or when the Hawaii National Guard is ordered to state active duty.  However, your Committee finds that the current cost of uniform maintenance far exceeds the amount of the maintenance allowance, and an increase is long overdue in order for the allowance to keep up with the rate of inflation.  Your Committee further finds that an increase in the uniform maintenance allowance will help defray the out-of-pocket costs borne by Hawaii's Army and Air National Guard personnel, and may be beneficial for retention and recruitment.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means 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 Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair