STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2805

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2710

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CULTURE AND ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Hawaii Leadership Awards Program to honor individuals who have made considerable and outstanding contributions to Hawaii and who serve as an inspiration to others.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that many exceptional and notable individuals are deserving of recognition for their contributions to the State. Hawaii currently honors, with the Aloha Order of Merit, those individuals who have made national and international contributions and achieved recognition. Your Committee believes that there should be a similar program to honor exceptional and notable individuals specifically for their contributions to Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair