STAND. COM. REP. NO.  197

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1526

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1526 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL RELIEF FOR STATE MILITARY FORCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand protections for military service members by:

     (1)  Conforming Chapter 657D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to civil relief for state military forces, to the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; and

     (2)  Waiving filing fees and court costs for a service member or other person seeking to enforce rights under Chapter 657D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The State Adjutant General and National Association for Uniformed Services – Hawaii Chapter supported this measure.  The United States Department of Defense State Liaison Office submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee recognizes the concerns raised by the United States Department of Defense State Liaison Office.  Should your Committee on Judiciary choose to hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider including:

     (1)  Other kinds of contracts, such as those for telecommunication services, internet service, television service, athletic club or gym membership, or satellite radio service under the consumer protections for military service members provided in this measure; and

     (2)  Federal active-duty military members within the scope of this measure by amending the proposed definition of "military service" to include individuals under a call to active service authorized by the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1526, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1526, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair