STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2473

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2256

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2256 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize issuance of a driver's license with the notation of "veteran" for persons who are veterans of the Korean conflict.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense Office of Veterans Services, City and County of Honolulu City Council, and Korean War Veterans Association Aloha Chapter.

     Your Committee finds that existing provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes allow individuals who have served in the United States armed services and are veterans of the Korean conflict to have "Korea Veteran" imprinted on their Hawaii license plates.  Although the Hawaii Revised Statutes also provides for annotation of veteran status on driver's licenses, existing language makes it difficult for veterans of the Korean conflict to qualify for the veteran's annotation provision.  Your Committee finds that these veterans should have access to full documentation of their veteran status.

     Your Committee also recognizes that numerous individuals served in the armed forces of the Republic of Korea and fought in the Korean conflict under the command of the United Nations led by the United States, and that many of these individuals are now citizens of the United States.  Your Committee finds that such individuals should be acknowledged as veterans.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language to the definition of "veteran" and a conforming amendment to include individuals who served in the armed forces of the Republic of Korea, who fought under the command of the United Nations led by the United States during the Korean conflict and are currently United States citizens; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Your Committee also notes that numerous individuals served in the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam and fought in the Vietnam conflict alongside United States armed services personnel, and that many of these individuals are now citizens of the United States.  Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Transportation and Energy to consider amending the definition of "veteran" to include such individuals if your Committee on Transportation and Energy hears this measure.

     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. 2256, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2256, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Transportation and Energy.

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

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair