STAND. COM. REP. NO.  470-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2383

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2383 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FLAGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to honor military personnel who are prisoners of war or missing in action by requiring the National League of Families' prisoner of war/missing in action flag (POW/MIA Flag) to be flown beneath the United States flag at buildings under the jurisdiction of the State.

     The Honolulu Councilmember of the Fourth District, Oahu Veterans Council, Meadow Gold Dairies, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Permitting, rather than requiring, the POW/MIA Flag to be flown at buildings under the jurisdiction of the State;

     (2)  Limiting the flying of the POW/MIA Flag to the following six days:

          (A)  Armed Forces Day;

          (B)  Memorial Day;

          (C)  Flag Day;

          (D)  Independence Day;

          (E)  National POW/MIA Recognition Day; and

          (F)  Veterans Day;

     and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2383, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2383, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair