STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2558

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2843

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2843, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FLAGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to recognize and require the prisoner of war/missing in action flag to be flown with the U.S. and Hawaiian flags.

     Your Committee finds that this measure would enhance state recognition of the thousands of Americans who were officially captured and interned as prisoners of war, and the thousands of others who were officially reported as missing in action.  Flying the POW/MIA flag would be an appropriate honor and tribute, particularly on buildings under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Defense.

Your Committee has amended this measure accordingly, by:

     (1)  Limiting the flag requirement to buildings under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Defense;

     (2)  Amending the effective date to July 1, 2040, for the purpose of encouraging further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2843, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2843, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair