STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3590

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 99

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 Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 99 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AND STRUCTURING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE ENGAGEMENT AND RELATED INITIATIVES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to convene a working group to develop recommendations for establishing and structuring a nonprofit organization recognized by the State to support arts and culture engagement and related initiatives.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that, unlike many other states in the nation, the State lacks an art and cultural center that inspires students and the public-at-large with creative programming. One of the most successful forms these centers take is a nonprofit organization that supplements and supports broader government-run activities. This measure will facilitate and increase cultural exchange, artistic collaboration, arts education, and creative residencies in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the purpose of the working group convened by this measure is to establish a nonprofit organization recognized by the State to support arts and culture engagement and related initiatives;

(2) Specifying that the working group convened by this measure shall be, rather than is requested to be, co-chaired by the Chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committees with primary jurisdiction over arts and culture;

(3) Clarifying that the working group convened by this measure shall include, rather than is requested to include, a representative of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and other members or subject matter experts, to be invited by the Chairs;

(4) Specifying that the working group convened by this measure shall identify potential partnerships with educational institutions, cultural organizations, community groups, and similar organizations in other places;

(5) Amending its title accordingly; and

(6) 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 Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 99, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 99, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair