REPORT TITLE:
Culture and Arts


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes a culture and the arts revolving fund.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                      313   
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE,
1999                                    
STATE OF HAWAII                         
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO CULTURE AND THE ARTS.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Great cultures are marked by great art,
 
 2 exceptional architecture, talented performances, powerful
 
 3 literature, creative thoughts and ideas, ethnic representations,
 
 4 and artifacts that can be appreciated worldwide and without the
 
 5 limitations of time.  The legislature finds that culture and the
 
 6 arts have proven to be of great social benefit to the people of
 
 7 Hawaii, as well as significant elements of the economic health of
 
 8 the State.
 
 9      The State is nationally renowned for its support of culture
 
10 and arts.  Thirty years ago, the State created the foundation on
 
11 culture and the arts.  This foundation supports a system of
 
12 nonprofit culture and art organizations that have allowed for a
 
13 blossoming of artistic and cultural endeavors throughout the
 
14 State.  However, due to the State's budget deficit, the
 
15 foundation sustained budget cuts of nearly seventy per cent in
 
16 fiscal year 1995-1996 and even deeper cuts in subsequent fiscal
 
17 years.  The State's reduced support of the foundation has
 
18 resulted in elimination and hardship for many long-standing
 
19 culture and arts programs.
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      The purpose of this Act is to establish an innovative means
 
 2 by which the state foundation on culture and the arts may
 
 3 leverage its resources to support nonprofit culture and arts
 
 4 programs.
 
 5      SECTION 2.  Chapter 9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 6 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
 7 read as follows:
 
 8      "§9-     Culture and the arts revolving fund established.
 
 9 (a)  There is established within the state treasury a culture and
 
10 the arts revolving fund hereinafter referred to as the fund.  The
 
11 fund shall be administered by the foundation to expand the
 
12 potential for locally-produced works and activities that may have
 
13 sufficient commercial value to generate additional revenues to
 
14 support cultural and arts programs throughout the State.
 
15 Pursuant to rules adopted by the foundation, revenues generated
 
16 from the sale of goods and services produced in accordance with
 
17 this section shall be deposited into the fund.  In addition,
 
18 gifts, donations, and grants from private persons received by the
 
19 foundation shall also be deposited into the fund.
 
20      (b)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, fund
 
21 expenditures shall not exceed $50,000 annually.
 
22      (c)  The foundation shall provide to the governor and the
 
23 legislature an annual report describing all transactions and
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 activities involved in the administration of the fund, including
 
 2 descriptions and amounts awarded for each artistic expression,
 
 3 project, or program funded under this section."
 
 4      SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
 5      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
 6 
 
 7                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________