Statutorily establishes a Hawaii sister-state committee to recommend sister-state or province relationships for the legislature's action. Effective July 1, 2020. (SB3192 HD2)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to statutorily reestablish the process for initiating and maintaining sister-state and sister province relationships as outlined by the former state office of international relations in 1993.

SECTION 2. This Act shall be known as the "Sister-State Act of 2006."

SECTION 3. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

§   -1 Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, "sister-state or province relationship" means a relationship between the State of Hawaii and the state, province, prefecture, or similar governmental or political subdivision of a foreign nation.

§   -2 Hawaii sister-state committee. There shall be established the Hawaii sister-state committee, to be placed within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes only, consisting of seven members appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34.

The purpose of the committee shall be to advise the governor and the legislature on matters relating to sister-state or province relations, and relations in general, between the State and the states, provinces, or prefectures of foreign countries. The governor shall appoint seven members, one member from each list of nominees submitted respectively by the following:

A chair and vice chair of the committee shall be appointed by the committee members from amongst themselves. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

§   -3 Initiating sister-state or province relationships. The Hawaii sister-state committee shall evaluate and develop recommendations for the initiation of all sister-state or province relationships and forward its recommendation to the legislature. The legislature, if it so chooses, shall implement the recommendation to initiate a sister-state or province relationship by either adopting a concurrent resolution or by enacting session law to that effect.

§   -4 Maintaining sister-state or province relationships. The Hawaii sister-state committee shall periodically evaluate established sister-state or province relationships and forward its recommendations on maintaining sister-state or province relationships to the governor and to the legislature.

§   -5 Dissolving sister-state or province relationships. The Hawaii sister-state committee may make a recommendation to terminate a sister-state or province relationship it deems to be defunct, moribund, or not beneficial, and forward its recommendation to the legislature. The legislature, if it so chooses, shall implement the recommendation to terminate a sister-state or province relationship either by adopting a concurrent resolution or by enacting session law to that effect."

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.