HCR90 HD1.DOC

WHEREAS, military personnel and their family members play a vital role in Hawaii's economy and make up a significant percentage of the population; and

WHEREAS, the transition to settle in, find a home, enroll children in school, transport pets, and register a vehicle is significantly more difficult when relocating to Hawaii than when relocating within the continental United States; and

WHEREAS, in addition to a seamless relocation and transition, newly transferred military personnel and their family members need resources to integrate and connect with the community in a meaningful way; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is uniquely rich in culture and diversity and a move to Hawaii can often feel more like a move to another country than a move within the United States for families moving from the continental United States; and

WHEREAS, traditional military models for transition, immersion, education, and wellness services are general and do not incorporate "local" resources in the communities that surround the military facilities; and

WHEREAS, transition, immersion, and education programs would strengthen the military relocation process by centralizing the information available to military members and their families and engaging them in Hawaii's community; and
WHEREAS, an education program would also encourage Hawaii residents to reach out and interact with new military members in the State; and

WHEREAS, various service branches located on Oahu retain their own informational and support channels for members relocating to Hawaii, but on an ad hoc basis; and

WHEREAS, consolidation of the various military branch information and support systems into one resource center will provide the benefits of economies of scale, resulting in equal and enhanced support for the military community in the State; and

WHEREAS, a resource center would also serve as an innovative model for other such centers nationwide and may serve as an important prototype for the United States Department of Defense to save money, especially given recent federal budget cuts; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the various branches of the United States armed services in the State of Hawaii, in cooperation with the Military Affairs Council of The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, are urged to establish an interagency working group to assess the operational and budgetary feasibility of a Consolidated Military Transition, Immersion, and Education Center; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group include, but not be limited to, representatives from the following agencies, departments, or groups:

(1) All military bases and facility commanders;

(2) Senior enlisted personnel and their spouses from all military bases in Hawaii;

(3) Hawaii National Guard;

(4) Hawaii State Legislature;

(5) Office of the Governor;

(6) Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

(7) Hawaii Veterans Affairs; and

(8) Other stakeholders who can contribute expertise to the working group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair of the Military Affairs Council of The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, or a designee, is requested to convene and act as chair of the working group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the operational plan of the Consolidated Military Transition, Immersion, and Education Center be based on efficiency and cost containment and consolidation, including public-private partnerships and the staffing of qualified, long-term personnel by private section contractors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of Defense of the United States Department of Defense; Governor; Commander of the United States Pacific Command; Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet; Commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces; Commanding General of the United States Army Pacific; Commander of the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific; Commander of the 14^th Coast Guard District; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Director of the Office of Veterans Services; and Chair of the Military Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Joint Military Transition, Immersion, and Education Center

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	90
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII