Report Title:
Appropriation; Office of Veterans' Services
Description:
Appropriates funds to provide services and resources to U.S. military veterans.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2998 |
|
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002 |
||
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
||
|
|
A BILL FOR AN ACT
making an appropriation to the office of veterans' services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that our democracy and its very act of conducting legislative business is a democratic activity that has been paid, and continues to be paid, by those who served and now serve in uniform. Unlike many places in the world, our military truly serves to ensure governance by a free people rather than enforce governance over people. In Hawaii where there are 115,000 veterans, or one in every ten residents are veterans, providing services and support for Hawaii's veterans is not only a federal issue, as caring for our own citizens who have been asked to protect our State and now are in need of assistance is certainly an important issue for the State of Hawaii.
The Office of Veterans Services (OVS) is the State's primary advocate for veterans applying for and receiving benefits and services. The OVS may take action on behalf of veterans, their families, and survivors to assist with federal Veteran's Administration benefits, claims, forms and appeals; advocate for veterans' concerns; establish and maintain individual record files; provide short-term counseling; assist with burials; provide information and referral and outreach programs; and assist with discharge upgrades, and letter writing and reading. The OVS serves all eligible veterans, reservists, National Guard members, active-duty military personnel and their dependents (including stepchildren).
The legislature further finds that the services provided by the OVS enables our veterans to apply for and receive federal assistance funds that they would not otherwise be informed of or be able to apply for. This service results in a financial gain for the State as our veterans receive funds that get recycled back into our economy and lessens the burden on other state funded assistance agencies.
The legislature further finds that with the aging of a significantly large number of veterans from the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War periods, additional resources are necessary to enable the OVS to respond adequately to requests for assistance as required by law. However, in recent years the OVS has suffered severe budget cuts requiring a smaller staff that has been tasked to concurrently perform significantly more duties. These budget cuts have included ceasing publication of "The Hawaii Veteran," a publication that informed veterans of services available and other information crucial to veterans. The publication is now online, however, many of our veterans do not have the electronic access needed and are thus without their link to the services and assistance offered.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the office of veterans services for personnel increases and purchases of equipment and materials needed in order to better enable the office to perform their functions and duties to our veterans. This Act honors our commitment to serving our veterans for their contributions to our nation.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for increasing personnel at the office of veterans' services and providing services and resources to United States military veterans.
SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of veterans' services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |