STAND. COM. REP. NO.  925-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 1974

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove the county residency requirements for the burial of members and veterans of the United States Armed Services and their dependents in veterans' cemeteries within the respective counties.

The Oahu Veterans Council testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Veterans Services of the Department of Defense provided comments.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language to conform Hawaii's eligibility requirements for the burial of members of the United States Armed Services and their dependents to the criteria established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs regarding eligibility for burial in a national cemetery;

     (2)  Inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2015; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair