Bill Text: HI SB3045 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Office of Veterans Services; Women's Veterans Coordinator; Appropriation; Establishment of Position ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-27 - Referred to PSM, WAM. [SB3045 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-SB3045-Introduced.html
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3045 |
|
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the department of defense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Women have served honorably and courageously in all of America's wars and conflicts since the American Revolution. With nearly fifteen per cent of the United States Armed Forces consisting of women, the population of female veterans is increasing exponentially and is projected to exceed ten per cent of the total veteran population by the year 2020. More than eleven thousand female veterans reside in Hawaii alone.
The circumstances and challenges faced by female veterans, as well as women on active duty, are often different from those of their male counterparts. Despite this, veteran's benefits have traditionally been designed to address the needs of male veterans.
Recognizing that a growing need to improve veterans' services to address the specific needs of female veterans in such areas as medical and mental health care, child care services, housing, and financial assistance existed, Senate Resolution No. 6, Senate Draft 1, was adopted in 2012, urging the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Hawaii office of veterans services to develop comprehensive programs and services to address the needs of female veterans and women on active duty. In response to Senate Resolution No. 6, Senate Draft 1, the Hawaii office of veterans services established the Hawaii military women's task force with the mission "to improve the lives of women who are serving or have served in the military, to identify and address the unique needs of women veterans, and to harness the power of women, influencing change."
In 2013, after numerous meetings, the task force submitted a report to the legislature which concluded that military women face multiple inter-related complex problems, including a high rate of military sexual trauma, and for female veterans, the related re-entry issues of adequate health care, high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, and joblessness.
One recommendation of the task force to help address the various problems and needs of female veterans and women on active duty is to establish and fully fund a women's veterans coordinator within the office of veterans services.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish a full-time, permanent women's veterans coordinator position in the office of veterans services.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent women's veterans coordinator position in the office of veterans services to address the various problems and needs of female veterans and women on active duty.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of defense for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
Office of Veterans Services; Women's Veterans Coordinator; Appropriation; Establishment of Position
Description:
Establishes a Women's Veterans Coordinator position within the Office of Veterans Services. Appropriation. Effective July 1, 2014.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
