STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3646

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1815

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1815, H.D. 1, S.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 support access to the performing arts in the State through transparent and responsible public funding.

More specifically, this measure applies to the Performing Arts Grants Program the existing grant standards for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Grant Program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Hokulani Children's Theatre of Molokai, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Grant Program establishes eligibility standards for applicants, sets conditions that grant recipients must follow, requires review of all grant proposals based on certain factors, sets appropriation allocations, and requires grant recipients to maintain compliance and eligibility standards for future funding. Your Committee further finds that these provisions ensure that Foundation grant funds are administered responsibly, transparently, and in alignment with the Foundation's purpose. By requiring the Performing Arts Grants Program to follow the Foundation's framework for grant applications, review, award, and compliance, your Committee believes that the Performing Arts Grants Program will be better able to effectively expand access to the performing arts based on community need, program quality, and the capacity of organizations to deliver meaningful outcomes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1815, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair