STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1335

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1420

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1420, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FILIPINO VETERANS BURIAL ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Office of Veterans Services for the provision of burial grants for Filipino-American veterans of World War II.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, and two individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that assisting Filipino-American veterans of World War II still living in the State with prospective funeral and burial costs, including the cost of returning their remains to the Philippines if they so desire, would demonstrate the State's appreciation and proper respect for their service.  Your Committee further finds that burial grants for Filipino-American veterans are statutorily established under Chapter 363, Hawaii Revised Statutes, but that funding for the provision of these grants has been non-existent.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     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 H.B. No. 1420, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1420, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair