REPORT TITLE:
Puerto Rican Centennial


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes a commission to celebrate the 100th anniversary of
the arrival of Puerto Ricans to Hawaii.  (HB634 CD1)

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        634
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            C.D. 1
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION TO CELEBRATE THE ONE-HUNDREDTH
   ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE PUERTO RICANS TO HAWAII.
 


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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that since the arrival of
 
 2 the first Puerto Ricans in Hawaii on December 23, 1900, the
 
 3 Puerto Rican people have contributed significantly to all phases
 
 4 of Hawaii's development.  The rich culture and proud heritage of
 
 5 the Puerto Rican people have been and continue to be positive
 
 6 influences upon life in Hawaii.  Recognition of the contributions
 
 7 of the Puerto Rican people and their culture is important to
 
 8 promoting and maintaining cognizance of Hawaii's diverse and
 
 9 multicultural society.  The year 2000 will mark the centennial
 
10 anniversary of the arrival of the Puerto Rican people in Hawaii,
 
11 and a celebration to commemorate their arrival and subsequent
 
12 achievements in Hawaii is appropriate.  
 
13      The purpose of this Act is to provide for the celebration of
 
14 the centennial anniversary of the Puerto Rican people in Hawaii.
 
15      SECTION 2.  Creation of the Puerto Rican centennial
 
16 celebration commission.  There is established a temporary
 
17 commission to be known as the Puerto Rican centennial celebration
 
18 commission which shall have charge of all arrangements for the
 
19 commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the
 

 


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 1 first Puerto Ricans to Hawaii.  The commission shall be placed
 
 2 within the office of the governor for administrative purposes and
 
 3 shall cease to operate after December 23, 2001.
 
 4      SECTION 3.  Membership, compensation.  The commission shall
 
 5 consist of fifteen members to be appointed by the governor
 
 6 without regard to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  There
 
 7 shall be a member from the Puerto Rican Heritage Society of
 
 8 Hawaii, the United Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii, Inc., the
 
 9 Maui Puerto Rican Association, the Kohala Puerto Rican
 
10 Association, and the Kauai Puerto Rican Association.  The
 
11 remaining ten members shall represent government, labor,
 
12 business, culture and the arts, and the community at large.  The
 
13 governor shall designate the chair of the commission from among
 
14 the appointed members.  The members shall not receive
 
15 compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for
 
16 necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the
 
17 performance of their duties under this Act.
 
18      SECTION 4.  Powers and duties.  The commission shall prepare
 
19 an overall program to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the
 
20 arrival of the Puerto Rican people to Hawaii, their significant
 
21 contributions to the development of this State, and their culture
 
22 and heritage.  The commission shall develop, plan, and coordinate
 
23 the various program activities that are to be scheduled
 

 


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 1 throughout the year of the celebration and shall encourage the
 
 2 participation of all segments of the Puerto Rican community.  In
 
 3 fulfilling its responsibilities, the commission shall consult,
 
 4 cooperate with, and seek advice from the Puerto Rican Heritage
 
 5 Society, the United Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii, Inc., the
 
 6 Maui Puerto Rican Association, the Kohala Puerto Rican
 
 7 Association, the Kauai Puerto Rican Association, and other
 
 8 appropriate organizations and agencies.
 
 9      The commission shall submit to the governor a comprehensive
 
10 report for the centennial anniversary celebration which shall
 
11 include, but not be limited to:
 
12      (1)  The production, publication, and distribution of books,
 
13           films, and other educational materials on the life and
 
14           experiences of Puerto Ricans in Hawaii;
 
15      (2)  Conferences, convocations, lectures, and seminars; and
 
16      (3)  Traveling exhibits, other exhibits, ceremonies,
 
17           theatrical productions, and other special events
 
18           commemorating the anniversary.
 
19      SECTION 5.  Trust fund established.  There is hereby created
 
20 a trust fund to be known as the ethnic celebration trust fund
 
21 which shall consist of payments made to the trust fund as
 
22 provided in this Act.  All moneys received by the commission
 
23 shall be deposited by the state director of finance into the
 

 


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 1 trust fund and expended by the commission for the purposes of
 
 2 this Act.  Disbursement of such moneys shall be by state warrants
 
 3 issued in accordance with applicable laws and rules and shall be
 
 4 based on vouchers signed by the chair of the commission.
 
 5      The commission may seek grants from public and private
 
 6 sources and may accept donations to finance the projects,
 
 7 programs, and activities of the centennial anniversary
 
 8 celebration.  Any funds received shall be deposited in the ethnic
 
 9 celebration trust fund.
 
10      All property acquired by the commission shall be deposited
 
11 for preservation in the state library system, museums, and public
 
12 archives or shall otherwise be disposed of as directed by the
 
13 commission.
 
14      SECTION 6.  Final report.  At the end of its term, the
 
15 commission shall submit to the governor a final report of all its
 
16 activities, including an accounting of all moneys received and
 
17 disbursed.
 
18      SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.