STAND. COM. REP. NO.  600

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 658

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 658 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE MAUI OFFICE OF VETERANS' SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is appropriate funds for a full-time counselor position for the Maui Office of Veterans' Services.

     Vietnam Veterans of Maui County submitted testimony in support of this bill.  The Office of Veterans' Services (OVS) supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that OVS provides crucial counseling and other services to connect individual veterans with federal agencies and assistance.  The absence of a counselor in the Maui Office of Veterans' Services would prevent thousands of veterans from accessing available federal funds and assistance.  Therefore, your Committee finds that funding this position is of utmost importance.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 658 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair