STAND. COM. REP. NO. 160-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2747

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2747 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CREATIVE MEDIA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Filmmakers Special Fund to award grants for film, media, and creative industries intellectual property development projects in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Hawaii Local; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts, Local 665; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; and Hawaii International Film Festival.

Your Committee finds that film festivals have helped to support Hawaii filmmakers by promoting new and emerging talent in Hawaii, helping to provide careers in creative media, increasing funding sources for filmmaking, and supporting creative media collaborations through educational programs. Your Committee further finds that film festivals attract tens of thousands of viewers, generating millions of dollars for the State. Your Committee also finds that there is currently a Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund that is not being fully utilized by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Your Committee therefore finds that repealing and transferring the funds from the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to support the establishment and functioning of the Filmmakers Special Fund would be beneficial to Hawaii's filmmakers and the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Repealing the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund;

(2) Transferring funds from the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to the Filmmakers Special Fund;

(3) Deleting the appropriation of general revenues into the Filmmakers Special Fund;

(4) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(5) Repealing its sunset date;

(6) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) 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. 2747, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2747, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development.

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

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair