STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2804

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3113

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3113 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys for the establishment of a veterans services counselor position within the Office of Veterans' Services to assist all veterans, with a primary focus on female veterans.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services, Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Women Veterans Sub-committee of the Office of Veterans Services, NuWayve Unlimited, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that nearly fifteen per cent of the members of the United States Armed Forces are women and that percentage is expected to grow as women are now allowed to serve in all front-line combat jobs.  Despite the large number of women that are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces, veterans services are traditionally designed to address the needs of male veterans rather than female veterans.

     Your Committee also finds that a 2013 Hawaii women military veterans task force reported that military women face multiple interrelated complex problems.  The task force reported that women veterans in particular face reentry issues of inadequate health care, high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, and joblessness.  Your Committee believes that a veterans services counselor position should be established to assist all veterans, with a primary focus on the various problems and needs faced by women veterans who have served on active duty.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Inserting an unspecified appropriation for military and veteran commemoration events; and

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     Your Committee notes that various measures are being considered this session that would provide funding for different military and veteran commemoration events, such as anniversary events for the Vietnam War and Pearl Harbor attack.  There is also a $437,000 grant request being considered by the Legislature.  Your Committee believes it is important that funding for these events continues to be considered.  Providing a general appropriation amount to the Department of Defense through either the budget or a bill would provide the department the flexibility needed to support these events that are important to our military community and our State.  Accordingly, if a standing committee in the House of Representatives decides to hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that the committee ask the Administration to indicate its preference for a funding mechanism for these events.

     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 S.B. No. 3113, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3113, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair