STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1293

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 1451

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1451, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize Lā Kū‘oko‘a, Hawaiian Recognition Day, as an official state holiday, and remove Good Friday as an official state holiday.

The O‘ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i testified in support of this measure. The Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies, Honolulu County Republican Party, and a few individuals testified in opposition to this measure. The Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Retaining Good Friday as an official state holiday;

(2) Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1451, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1451, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair