STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2010

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2812

       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. 2812 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARMED SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to create the Hawaii military family relief trust fund from which moneys may be expended for purposes of the Hawaii military family relief program to defray the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services, and other expenses of members of the Hawaii national guard and Hawaii residents who are members of the reserve components of the armed forces of the United States.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense.

     Funds in the Hawaii military family relief trust fund would be realized from general appropriations and moneys received from public and private sources as gifts, grants, and donations.  This measure would apply to qualifying personnel who have served on active service as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Noble Eagle and were discharged or released under honorable conditions from service.  This measure provides for one time lump-sum payments of $1,000 for active service in Afghanistan or Iraq, and $500 for active duty within the continental limits of the United States or outside the continental limits of the United States other than in Afghanistan or Iraq.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

     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. 2812, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2812, 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