STAND. COM. REP. NO.  746

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   H.B. No. 671

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 671, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow surviving, unmarried same-sex partners of deceased veterans to be interred at any state veterans cemetery if the surviving spouse provides evidence that the couple would have been married but for a state law prohibiting same-sex marriage.

 

     The Veterans Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The State Office of Veterans Services opposed this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Requiring that surviving partners provide a written formal request for waiver and evidence, rather than written evidence, to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (SECVA);

 

(2)  Allowing case evidence deemed appropriate by the SECVA to be considered as evidence for internment eligibility;

 

(3)  Authorizing the SECVA to adjudicate and to respond to requestors, including approval of internment, after review of waiver requests; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 671, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 671, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair