STAND. COM. REP. NO.  52

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 378

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 378 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a stable and dedicated funding source for repatriation and burial costs for Filipino-American World War II veterans by appropriating funds to the Office of Veterans Services for the provision of burial grants for Filipino-American World War II veterans, subject to certain conditions.

 

     The Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Filipino American Citizens League, The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, Region 11, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Filipina Advocacy Network, Filipino Community Center, Inc., University of Hawai‘i Pamantasan Council, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance and State Office of Veterans Services provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the appropriation for burial grants for Filipino-American World War II veterans to an unspecified amount; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs respectfully requests that it consider:

 

     (1)  Appropriating $100,000 for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 for burial grants for Filipino-American World War II veterans; and

 

     (2)  Whether unexpended funds should lapse.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 378, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 378, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair