HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 1058 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 1058
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1058
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
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.
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.
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.