STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3082

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2396

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2396, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the payment of allowances for TRICARE Reserve Select coverages to junior officers, warrant officers, or enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than thirty days in service to the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense and one individual.

Your Committee finds that there has been an increase in natural disasters throughout the State, which has led to numerous Hawaii National Guard service members ordered to active duty in response for extended periods, resulting in many service members losing their civilian company-provided health care coverage. Your Committee further finds that to require service members be on active duty without any health care coverage is an unfair request. This measure demonstrates the State's commitment to supporting its National Guard members and will improve retention by providing them with adequate access to health care coverage.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2042, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2396, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2396, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair