STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1112

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 154
                                        H.D. 1
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred H.B. No. 154, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC TELEVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide for the orderly
transfer of the licenses, assets, responsibilities, and function
of the Hawaii Public Broadcasting Authority (HPBA) to the Hawaii
Public Television Foundation (HPTF).

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
HPBA, and a member of the Board of Directors of the HPTF.  The
Department of Budget and Finance testified in support of the
measure with amendments.  The Hawaii Government Employees
Association testified in opposition to the measure.

     Your Committee finds that the continuing and significant
reductions in public funding of public television have resulted
in cancellation of popular long-running programs, reduction in
broadcast hours, and deterioration of the physical plant.
Because of the ongoing inability of the State to provide adequate
support to public television, the HPTF was formed in 1997.  Your
Committee also finds that the HPTF is in the process of raising
funding to improve the quality of public broadcasting in the
State and will be ready to take over the management of public
broadcasting in Hawaii on July 1, 2000.


 
a                                                     HB154 SD1
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1112
                                   Page 2


     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its
contents and replacing it with language from S.B. No. 1138,
S.D. 1, which:

     (1)  Adds a provision giving the State of Hawaii first
          right, at no cost, to any equipment listed on the
          inventory of the HPBA, that the HPTF should determine
          is no longer useful; 

     (2)  Changes the provision regarding the transfer of assets
          so that if the HPTF should dissolve or discontinue
          public broadcasting in Hawaii, then the State has first
          right, at no cost, to the assets, and all assets not
          claimed by the State will be transferred, along with
          licenses and rights, to a public or private entity
          qualified as the public broadcasting affiliate in
          Hawaii;

     (3)  Adds a provision expressly granting the HPBA all
          authority necessary to carry out the transfers in this
          measure, including conveying property and assigning
          contracts;

     (4)  Adds a provision requiring the executive director of
          the HPBA to deliver to the HPTF all records and
          property subject to the transfers authorized in this
          measure;

     (5)  Refocuses the Findings and Purpose of the first
          section; and

     (6)  Makes technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of
          clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education and Technology that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 154, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B.
No. 154, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means.


 
a                                                     HB154 SD1
 
 
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1112
                                   Page 3


                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Education and
                                   Technology,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
a                                                     HB154 SD1