STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3313

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2072

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2072, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Defense for the establishment of one full-time equivalent permanent veterans coordinator position in the Office of Veterans' Services to address the various problems and needs of all veterans, with a primary focus on female veterans, who served on active duty for the full period they were activated.  

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense; the State Office of Veterans' Services; the Advisory Board to the Office of Veterans' Services; the Military Officers Association of America; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the circumstances and challenges faced by female veterans are often different from those of their male counterparts.  However, veterans' benefits have traditionally been designed to address the needs of male veterans.  Furthermore, the high rate of military sexual trauma and lack of access to adequate health care upon returning from service have made clear the need for a permanent veterans coordinator position.  Your Committee believes that this measure will address the needs of all veterans as well as the specific needs of female veterans and give them access to treatments and resources to allow them to successfully readjust to civilian life.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

(2)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 2072, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2072, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair