STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1385

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 478

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 478, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Artist Fellowship Program for the awarding of one-time fellowships to promising artists.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Inc.; Hawai‘i Arts Alliance; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that from 1995 to 2008, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts provided fellowships in the areas of visual and performing arts. However, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts has only recently restarted its program to recognize artists, cultural practitioners, and teaching artists across the State. Additionally, the visual and performing arts communities continue to face challenges from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This measure recognizes and celebrates the State's rich cultural landscape by supporting and encouraging the works and artistic endeavors of individuals who contribute to the artistic heritage and economic health of the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying the qualifications of commission members to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Commission;

(2) Requiring the commission to have at least one member with a background or experience in each of the following:

(A) Needs of public education;

(B) Neighbor island communities;

(C) Native Hawaiian culture and diversity; and

(D) Urban design and public infrastructure;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 478, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 478, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair