HB 1058: RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to establish the veterans cemeteries board, composed of representatives from federal, state, and county departments and agencies, to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance, education, technical assistance, and other support to ensure compliance with standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 363, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§363-     Veterans cemeteries board.  (a)  There shall be established the veterans cemeteries board within the office in the department of defense for administrative purposes only.  The veterans cemeteries board shall:

     (1)  Identify compliance issues faced by veterans cemeteries in the State, resources needed, and challenges encountered by departments or agencies that manage veterans cemeteries and work collaboratively to resolve issues;

     (2)  Devise solutions to address the issues identified in paragraph (1) and implement the solutions through a cross-representation of the state and county departments and agencies on the board;

     (3)  Seek resource solutions, including funding, legislative initiatives, and inter-governmental program support; and

     (4)  Interact with and invite interested community agencies and organizations, stakeholders, and concerned veterans and citizens to participate in discussions and board meetings.

     (b)  The veterans cemeteries board shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director, or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the board;

     (2)  A representative of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, by invitation of the director;

     (3)  The director of the department or agency within the county of Maui responsible for operating and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee;

     (4)  The director of the department or agency within the county of Hawaii responsible for operating and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee;

     (5)  The director of the department or agency within the county of Kauai responsible for operating and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee; and

     (6)  The cemetery operations manager of the Hawaii state veterans cemetery, or the manager's designee.

     The members of the veterans cemeteries board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties.  A majority of the members of the veterans cemeteries board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business of the board.  A majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is established shall be necessary to validate any action of the veterans cemeteries board.

     (c)  The veterans cemeteries board shall develop and make recommendations to meet compliance standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  In developing its recommendations, the veterans cemeteries board shall create, develop, and adopt a statewide framework, which shall include:

     (1)  A clear understanding of compliance standards for cemetery grounds and maintenance set by the National Cemetery Administration;

     (2)  Strategies and recommendations for grounds and maintenance best practices to address the varying challenges and conditions of each cemetery location; and

     (3)  A standardized system of data collection and information sharing to support the intergovernmental efforts of the board.

     (d)  The office shall provide necessary staff and other support required by the veterans cemeteries board for the performance of its duties."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DOD; OVS; Veterans Cemeteries Board; Veterans Cemeteries

Description:

Establishes the Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services of the Department of Defense to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance, education, technical assistance, and other support to ensure compliance with standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this bill is to establish the veterans cemeteries board, composed of representatives from federal, state, and county departments and agencies, to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance, education, technical assistance, and other support to ensure compliance with standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 363, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§363-     Veterans cemeteries board.  (a)  There shall be established the veterans cemeteries board within the office in the department of defense for administrative purposes only.  The main responsibilities of the veterans cemeteries board shall be as follows:

     (1)  Identify compliance issues faced by veterans cemeteries in the State, resources needed, and challenges encountered by departments or agencies that manage veterans cemeteries and work collaboratively to resolve issues;

     (2)  Devise solutions to address the issues identified under paragraph (1) and implement the solutions through a cross-representation of the state and county departments and agencies on the board;

     (3)  Seek resource solutions including funding, legislative initiatives, and inter-governmental program support; and

     (4)  Interact and invite interested community agencies, organizations, stakeholders, and concerned veterans and citizens to participate in discussions and board meetings.

     (b)  The veteran cemeteries board shall be comprised of the following members:

     (1)  The director, or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the board;

     (2)  A representative of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific by invitation of the director;

     (3)  The director of the department within the county of Maui responsible for operating and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee;

     (4)  The director of the department within the county of Hawaii responsible for operating and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee;

     (5)  The director of the department within the county of Kauai responsible for operating and maintaining the county's veterans cemeteries, or the director's designee; and

     (6)  The cemetery operations manager of the Hawaii state veterans cemetery, or the manager's designee.

     The members of the veterans cemeteries board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties.  A majority of the members of the veterans cemeteries board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business of the board.  A majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is established shall be necessary to validate any action of the veterans cemeteries board.

     (c)  The veterans cemeteries board shall develop and make recommendations to meet compliance standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  In developing the recommendation, the veterans cemeteries board shall create, develop, and adopt a statewide framework, which shall include:

     (1)  A clear understanding of compliance standards for cemetery grounds and maintenance set by the National Cemetery Administration;

     (2)  Strategies and recommendations for grounds and maintenance best practices to address the varying challenges and conditions of each cemetery location; and

     (3)  A standardized system of data collection and information sharing to support the intergovernmental efforts of the board.

     (d)  The office shall provide necessary staff and other support required by the veterans cemeteries board for the performance of its duties."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DOD; OVS; Veterans Cemeteries Board; Veterans Cemeteries

Description:

Establishes the Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services of the Department of Defense to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance, education, technical assistance, and other support to ensure compliance with standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  455

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1058

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1058 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services of the Department of Defense to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance, education, technical assistance, and other support to ensure compliance with standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense; Office of Veterans Services; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the final resting places of eligible veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and their eligible family members should reflect Hawaii's appreciation and gratitude for their service and sacrifice to the State and nation.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1058, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1058, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,