STAND. COM. REP. NO. 693

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1508

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1508 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for certain departments and agencies to provide grants to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that have experience and expertise in supporting and advancing Native Hawaiian communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Maui County Council, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and ‘Apoākea Native Hawaiian Innovation Institute.

Your Committee finds that this measure supports Native Hawaiian communities and culture by tailoring assistance programs to benefit these communities, while capitalizing on organizations with experience providing assistance and support to Native Hawaiian communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Directly appropriating funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, rather than appropriating funds to provide grants, to improve Native Hawaiian communities and culture through various assistance services;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriation amounts of:

(1) $2,000,000 for the purpose of improving Native Hawaiian communities and culture by providing a virtual marketplace that supports local artisans and businesses to adapt to e-commerce;

(2) $1,000,000 for the purpose of improving Native Hawaiian communities and culture by providing a physical co-working space and an innovation, entrepreneur, and resource center that provides workshops, counseling, loan assistance, and broadband access; and

(3) $1,000,000 for the repatriation and reburials of Native Hawaiians nationally and internationally.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1508, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair