STAND. COM. REP. NO. 819

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 49

       H.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 49, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEMBERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the person designated by a decedent who died while serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces to arrange for the final disposition of the decedent's body, under specified circumstances, through a United States Department of Defense Record of Emergency Data, DD Form 93.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Quality of Life Regional Liaison, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community & Family Policy, Department of Defense State Liaison Office; and the Department of Defense.

     This measure is intended to recognize in statute the approach that Service members of the Armed Forces are required by federal law to follow in designating a person to direct the disposition of their remains.  The DD Form 93 is an essential part of their military record, also designating beneficiaries for members' group life insurance.  Service members of the Armed Forces are required to update the Form annually and before any deployment.  This measure ensures that the DD Form 93 is consulted and viewed as the legally sufficient document for designating the disposition of Service members' remains.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 49, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair