STAND. COM. REP. NO. 143

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 473

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 Culture, Arts & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 473 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts creative workforce grant program for the awarding of grants to eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations to support the living wage of creative workers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Inc.; Diamond Head Theatre; IONA Contemporary Dance theatre; West Hawaii Dance Theatre; Hawai‘i Arts Alliance; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the creative workforce grants that could be awarded with funds to be appropriated by this measure would significantly enhance supporting the creative workforce and the prospects of receiving a living wage in the regional labor market where the work is performed by creative workers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $500,000.

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. 473, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 473, 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,

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair