HB1422.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is a matter of statewide concern to support the growth and sustainability of the Hawaii tourism industry.

The legislature further finds that the State's first sister-state relationship with the Philippines was established in 1985 with the Province of Ilocos Sur. House Concurrent Resolution No. 124 H.D. 1, 1985, which established the sister-state relationship, noted that Filipino immigrants and their descendants have contributed greatly to the economy, cultural diversity, and strength of Hawaii's society.

The first fifteen Filipinos, also known as sakadas or plantation workers from the Province of Ilocos Sur, arrived in Hawaii on December 20, 1906, to help with Hawaii's sugar plantations. Filipinos have since become the largest ethnic group in the State.

Similar to Hawaii, the Province of Ilocos Sur benefits from tourism. In 2015, the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur, the City of Vigan, was officially recognized as one of the world's wonder cities along with Beirut, Doha, Durban, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, and La Paz. As an emerging tourist destination, the City of Vigan is an example of the growth of global tourism, which is an industry that is important to Hawaii. The Province of Ilocos Sur will be celebrating its bicentennial anniversary on February 1 to 3, 2018.

Because of the historical relationship between the Philippines and Hawaii, an opportunity exists to establish a student exchange program compact to foster goodwill and mutually beneficial cultural and educational exchanges.

Founded in 1966, the University of Hawaii school of travel industry management can enhance its reputation as one of the most respected programs worldwide in hospitality, tourism, and transportation management through the establishment of a student exchange program compact with Ilocos Sur Community College and the University of Northern Philippines. Ilocos Sur Community College was founded in 1975 and started its tourism management program in 1992, and the University of Northern Philippines was founded in 1965 and started its college of hospitality and tourism management in 1997.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a student exchange program compact between the University of Northern Philippines college of hospitality and tourism management or the Ilocos Sur Community College tourism management program, or both, in the Province of Ilocos Sur of the Republic of the Philippines and the University of Hawaii school of travel industry management to focus on hospitality, tourism, and transportation management exchanges.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304A, part II, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new subpart to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

" . STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

§304A- University of Northern Philippines college of hospitality and tourism management or Ilocos Sur Community College tourism management program, or both, in the Province of Ilocos Sur of the Republic of the Philippines and University of Hawaii school of travel industry management student exchange program compact. (a) There is established by an agreement of the parties a student exchange program compact between the University of Northern Philippines college of hospitality and tourism management or Ilocos Sur Community College tourism management program, or both, in the Province of Ilocos Sur of the Republic of the Philippines and the University of Hawaii school of travel industry management that shall focus on hospitality, tourism, and transportation management exchanges. The University of Northern Philippines college of hospitality and tourism management or Ilocos Sur Community College tourism management program, or both, and the University of Hawaii school of travel industry management shall develop a plan to foster communication, cooperation, and courtesies with each other to explore different avenues of hospitality, tourism, and transportation management exchanges.

§304A- University of Northern Philippines college of hospitality and tourism management or Ilocos Sur Community College tourism management program, or both, in the Province of Ilocos Sur of the Republic of the Philippines and University of Hawaii school of travel industry management student exchange program compact revolving fund. (a) There is established a revolving fund for the University of Northern Philippines college of hospitality and tourism management or Ilocos Sur Community College tourism management program, or both, in the Province of Ilocos Sur of the Republic of the Philippines and University of Hawaii school of travel industry management student exchange program compact into which shall be deposited all donations, gifts, contributions, legislative appropriations, and moneys generated by the program compact through hospitality, tourism, and transportation management exchanges. Moneys deposited into the fund shall be expended by the University of Hawaii school of travel industry management for student aid, training projects, teaching, supplies, services, and activities related to the development of hospitality, tourism, and transportation management exchanges of the University of Northern Philippines college of hospitality and tourism management or Ilocos Sur Community College tourism management program, or both, and University of Hawaii school of travel industry management student exchange program compact.

(b) The dean of the University of Hawaii school of travel industry management shall prepare and submit an annual report to the legislature accounting for all income and expenditures of the revolving fund.

(c) All unexpended and unencumbered moneys appropriated by the legislature remaining in the fund at the close of each fiscal year which are deemed, by the director of finance, to be in excess of the moneys necessary to carry out the purposes of this section over the next following fiscal year shall lapse to the credit of the state general fund."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

INTRODUCED BY:

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1422
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII