HI HB1944

Establishes the Filipino-American Veterans of World War II Burial Assistance Program within the Office of Veterans Services to provide burial grants covering repatriation of remains to the Philippines and funeral/burial costs for eligible Filipino-American World War II veterans.

Creates the Filipino-American Veterans of World War II Burial Assistance Program Special Fund within the state treasury to be administered by the Office of Veterans Services and funded by legislative appropriations.

Allows the Office of Veterans Services to make expenditures from the special fund independently of legislative appropriations, and authorizes the fund to lapse upon program cessation with remaining funds reverting to the general fund.

Appropriates unspecified amounts from general revenues for fiscal year 2018-2019 to establish the special fund and for burial grants to eligible Filipino-American World War II veterans.

Program shall operate only while federal funding remains unavailable and eligible Filipino-American veterans remain living in Hawaii; Office of Veterans Services must adopt rules to cease operations once no eligible veterans remain.