STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1594

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 60

       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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 60, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO ESTABLISH A VETERAN WOMEN SERVICES COORDINATOR POSITION WITHIN THE OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the State Department of Defense to establish a veteran women services coordinator position within the Office of Veterans Services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services, Hawaii Women's Military Veterans Task Force, and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has approximately 11,744 women veterans.  Your Committee further finds that women in the military face multiple, inter-related, and complex problems, which include a high rate of military sexual trauma, inadequate health care after reentry into the civilian life, high rates of post-traumatic stress syndrome, homelessness, and unemployment.  This measure will provide support for the establishment of a veteran women services coordinator position, which will assist the Office of Veterans Services to identify and address specific needs of women veterans.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 60, H.D. 1, and recommends that it 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