STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2193

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2843

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2843 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FLAGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the National League of Families' prisoner of war/missing in action flag to be flown with the United States and Hawaiian flags to honor American prisoners of war and military personnel who are missing in action.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three private entities and six individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee feels that the prisoner of war/missing in action flag is a symbol of those who have not returned.  This measure is consistent with the Pearl Harbor Survivors' motto, "We will never forget."  The flag is a constant reminder of their sacrifice and the hope that they will one day come home.  Your Committee finds that the flag deserves to be flown on the grounds of state buildings.

     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 Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2843, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2843, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair