HB 1062: RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that section 121-12(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, currently mandates that the Hawaii army national guard and air national guard each be headed by an assistant adjutant general, with the rank capped at brigadier general.  While most states' national guard components are federally authorized to be headed by officers with a maximum rank of brigadier general, the United States Department of the Air Force has authorized the Hawaii air national guard to be led by an officer with the rank of major general, reflecting the organization's size and complexity.  Additionally, the chief of staff position for the Hawaii air national guard is federally authorized at the grade of major general.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Allow the head of the Hawaii air national guard to hold the rank authorized by the United States Department of the Air Force, which is currently major general;

     (2)  Provide the adjutant general with the flexibility to assign either the chief of staff or the assistant adjutant general to lead the Hawaii air national guard; and

     (3)  Authorize the pay and allowances for the chief of staff of the Hawaii air national guard to be determined according to the pay tables of the regular air force of the United States.

     SECTION 2.  Section 121-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The headquarters staff of the national guard shall be composed of the army national guard component, which shall include a selective service section, and the air national guard component.  The headquarters shall be staffed by [such] the officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel, in the grades and branches of service as may be authorized by the secretaries of the army and the air force.  The army division [and the air division] shall [each] be headed by an assistant adjutant general[, who shall, while holding the office, have a grade no higher than brigadier general].  The air division shall be headed by a chief of staff or an assistant adjutant general, as determined by the adjutant general.  The assistant adjutants general[,] or chief of staff, when in the full-time employment of the department of defense, may receive the pay and allowance of their grade as fixed by the tables of the regular army or air force of the United States."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

Report Title:

Hawaii Air National Guard; Hawaii Army National Guard; Hawaii National Guard; Department of Defense; Rank and Title of Component Heads

Description:

Allows the commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard to hold the rank authorized by the Department of the Air Force.  Provides the Adjutant General with the flexibility to assign either the Chief of Staff or the Assistant Adjutant General to lead the Hawaii Air National Guard.  Authorizes the pay and allowances for the Chief of Staff of the Hawaii Air National Guard to be determined according to the pay tables of the Regular Air Force of the United States.  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 THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that section 121-12(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, currently mandates that the Hawaii army national guard and air national guard each be headed by an assistant adjutant general, with the rank capped at brigadier general.  While most states' national guard components are federally authorized to be headed by officers with a maximum rank of brigadier general, the Department of the Air Force has authorized the Hawaii air national guard to be led by an officer with the rank of major general, reflecting the organization's size and complexity.  Additionally, the chief of staff position for the Hawaii air national guard is federally authorized at the grade of major general.

     Accordingly, the purposes of this Act are to:

     (1)  Allow the head of the Hawaii air national guard to hold the rank authorized by the Department of the Air Force, which is currently major general;

     (2)  Provide the adjutant general with the flexibility to assign either the chief of staff or the assistant adjutant general to lead the Hawaii air national guard; and

     (3)  Authorize the pay and allowances for the chief of staff of the Hawaii air national guard to be determined according to the pay tables of the regular air force of the United States.

     SECTION 2.  Section 121-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The headquarters staff of the national guard shall be composed of the army national guard component, which shall include a selective service section, and the air national guard component.  The headquarters shall be staffed by [such] the officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel, in the grades and branches of service as may be authorized by the secretaries of the army and the air force.  The army division [and the air division] shall [each] be headed by an assistant adjutant general[, who shall, while holding the office, have a grade no higher than brigadier general].  The air division shall be headed by a chief of staff or an assistant adjutant general, as determined by the adjutant general.  The assistant adjutants general[,] or chief of staff, when in the full-time employment of the department of defense, may receive the pay and allowance of their grade as fixed by the tables of the regular army or air force of the United States."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

Hawaii Air National Guard; Hawaii Army National Guard; Hawaii National Guard; Department of Defense; Rank and Title of Component Heads

Description:

Allows the commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard to hold the rank authorized by the Department of the Air Force.  Provides the Adjutant General with the flexibility to assign either the Chief of Staff or the Assistant Adjutant General to lead the Hawaii Air National Guard.  Authorizes the pay and allowances for the Chief of Staff of the Hawaii Air National Guard to be determined according to the pay tables of the Regular Air Force of the United States.  Effective 7/1/2025.

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.  452

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1062

      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. 1062 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Allow the head of the Hawaii Air National Guard to hold the rank authorized by the United States Department of the Air Force, which is currently major general;

     (2)  Provide the Adjutant General with the flexibility to assign either the Chief of Staff or the Assistant Adjutant General to lead the Hawaii Air National Guard; and

     (3)  Authorize the pay and allowances for the Chief of Staff of the Hawaii Air National Guard to be determined according to the pay tables of the regular Air Force of the United States.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense; Hawaii Air National Guard; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that this measure streamlines the chain of command and provides the Adjutant General with the flexibility to appoint either the Chief of Staff or the Assistant Adjutant General-Air to head the Hawaii Air National Guard.

     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. 1062, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1062, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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