Bill Text: HI SB541 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 541 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Veterans Disability Benefits; Attachment; Exemption

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-06 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to JDL. [SB541 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB541-Amended.html

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 97

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 541

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 541 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS DISABILITY BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt federal veterans' disability benefits from seizure to enforce a court judgment, except for certain child and spousal support cases.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services, State of Hawaii; Oahu Veterans Council; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds disabled veterans often live on their disability income, which generally falls short of necessary expenses. Veterans' permanent disabilities often do not allow them to pursue gainful or supplemental employment. Providing an exemption for permanently disabled veterans' benefits from seizure by creditors will improve the quality of life for veterans.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 541 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair