STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1374

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 601

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 601, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM REGISTRATION FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal the requirement that disabled veterans must receive disability retirement pay from the Armed Forces to be exempt from payment of annual motor vehicle registration fees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services, Department of Transportation, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that almost four thousand veterans, who are rated by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs as one hundred percent disabled, reside in Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that disabled veterans have made sacrifices to serve the community and the country and should be appreciated for their service whether or not they receive disability retirement pay from the Armed Forces.

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 H.B. No. 601, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair