STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1510

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1352

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1352, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION TO PLAN FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF HAWAII STATEHOOD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to create a Fiftieth Anniversary of Statehood Commission.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism submitted comments in support of the measure.

     Your Committee recognizes that in 2009 Hawaii will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary of statehood.  This bill creates a commission composed of members from a wide range of Hawaii's communities to plan and coordinate the public celebration and appropriates necessary funds.

     Your Committee amended the bill to reflect the fact that the number of members on the commission is twenty-five, not twenty-three.

     Your Committee believes that the representation of a broad cross-section of communities in this State will enable the commission to plan a commemoration that is both dignified as well as sensitive to the feelings of all segments of Hawaii's residents.

     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. 1352, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1352, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair