STAND. COM. REP. NO.  486

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 829

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 829 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to recognize the sacrifices made by our veterans by exempting noncommercial motor vehicles owned by armed services veterans who have a service-connected disability from the state motor vehicle tax and vehicle registration fee.

 

     The Office of Veterans' Services and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) and City and County of Honolulu opposed this measure.  The Department of Taxation and Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments.

 

     Your Committee notes the concerns raised by DOT that, while DOT recognizes the importance of efforts to reward the sacrifices of veterans for our country, this measure would have an adverse impact on fees that support the construction, operations, and maintenance of highways.

 

     Therefore, your Committee has amended this bill by limiting the exemption to veterans who are totally disabled for purposes of employability, according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as a result of a service-related injury.

 

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 829, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 829, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs,

 

 

		____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair