STAND. COM. REP. NO. 370-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2225

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred H.B. No. 2225 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish provisions governing any person who receives compensation for advising or assisting any individual with veterans benefits.

Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee posted and made available for public review a proposed H.D. 1, which added language holding persons receiving compensation for assisting an individual with regard to any veterans benefits matter to the same ethical standards as an attorney is held to under the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct and allowing the division of fees between attorneys under certain circumstances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the proposed H.D. 1 from Veterans of Foreign Wars. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the proposed H.D. 1 from the Veterans Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC; National Association of Veteran Rights; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that individuals providing services to veterans with regard to any veterans benefits matter should be governed by provisions that ensure transparency and fairness. Your Committee believes that this measure addresses this concern by establishing provisions for ethical standards, transparency, advertising requirements, and penalties for individuals providing services with regard to any veterans benefits matter.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed H.D. 1 and further amending this measure by:

(1) Deleting the prohibition on receiving compensation for advising or assisting individuals with regard to veterans benefits matters;

(2) Adding an additional disclosure requirement for the estimated cost of services;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2225, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2225, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair