STAND. COM. REP. NO. 96

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 540

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 540 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make permanent provisions relating to residency requirements for the burial of Armed Services members and their dependents in veterans cemeteries.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Office of Veterans' Services, Oahu Veterans Council, and three individuals.

     Your Committee notes that under this measure, eligible veterans, service members, and their dependents shall continue to be buried in the veterans' cemeteries in the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui without meeting specific residency requirements.  This measure is important to ensure our veterans and military personnel who serve the United States have a local place to rest in peace.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 540 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair