STAND. COM. REP. NO. 495

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 627

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 627 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of special license plates to commemorate the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Arts Alliance, and nine individuals.

Your Committee finds that the voyage of Hōkūle‘a is an irreplaceable part of Hawaii's history, legacy, culture, and identity. A special license plate as proposed by this measure will support the ongoing mission of the Polynesian Voyaging Society to care for the earth.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the special license plates may be issued to any registered owner of motor vehicles, rather than only for electric vehicles;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2065, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 627, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 627, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair