STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2499

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2317

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2317 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE CAPITOL TOURS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Governor to administer and facilitate a State Capitol Tour Program that utilizes volunteer docents to conduct walking tours of the State Capitol; and

(2) Appropriate an unspecified amount of funds to the Office of the Governor for:

(A) One permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position; and

(B) The administration of the State Capitol Tour Program.

Your Committee did not receive any testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that providing State Capitol tours is a meaningful public service that provides visitors to the State Capitol with an opportunity to appreciate the State and its democratic process. Your Committee also finds that, although visitors have the option to take virtual or self-guided tours of the State Capitol, having volunteer docents conduct walking tours would enhance the understanding of its architecture and symbolism.

Your Committee notes that S.B. No. 699, S.D. 2, H.D. 1 (2023), is a similar measure that proposed to establish a State Capitol Tours Program within the Office of the Governor. Despite discussions held with the Office of the Governor and Friends of Iolani Palace, consideration of S.B. No. 699, S.D. 2, H.D. 1 (2023) was terminated. Accordingly, your Committee encourages that the collaborative efforts and discussions among the parties continue for this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2317, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2317, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair