STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1247

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 527

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 527, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNIFORM MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal the uniform maintenance allowance for enlisted personnel.

     Your Committee finds that the Legislature established the uniform maintenance allowance for enlisted personnel during the Regular Session of 1967 to assist enlisted members of the National Guard with the cost of professionally laundering their uniforms.  However, this allowance is no longer necessary because most modern military uniforms are made of wash and wear fabric that does not require dry cleaning.  Your Committee further finds that the numerous benefits accorded by the State to the National Guard and other military members in recent years will more than cover the loss of funds experienced by enlisted personnel upon the repeal of the uniform maintenance allowance.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 527, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair