STAND. COM. REP. NO.  414

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1419

      H.D. 1

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. 1419 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that funerals, memorial services, and ceremonies held at veterans' cemeteries are not disturbed or disrupted.

This bill:

(1)  Requires the counties to approve demonstrations involving picketing or other related activities held at these cemeteries;

(2)  Establishes time and location restrictions on demonstrations held at veterans' cemeteries; and

(3)  Provides that individuals who violate the new law have committed a petty misdemeanor.

The Office of Veterans Services (OVS) supported this bill.

     Your Committee understands that only one cemetery located in Kaneohe, Oahu, is under the direct control of OVS, while there are seven other veterans cemeteries on other islands.  To allow this bill to apply to veterans cemeteries located throughout the islands, your Committee has amended this bill by making its restrictions applicable to cemeteries that have received funding through the Office of Veterans Services.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1419, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1419, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair