STAND. COM. REP. NO. 518

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1438

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Tourism and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1438 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 establish a Fiftieth Anniversary of Statehood Commission.

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

     The intent of this measure is to plan and coordinate the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Hawaii's admission to statehood in August 1959.  Your Committee finds that Hawaii has benefited greatly from statehood, particularly the rights, privileges, and protections that statehood and citizenship under the United States provide.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including in the membership of the commission, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and State Foundation on Culture and the Arts;

     (2)  Clarifying the qualification of the members to include some knowledge about the history and culture of Hawaii, and experience in event planning and in developing community partnerships; and

     (3)  Providing that, with respect to the composition of the commission:

          (A)  The selection of the chair shall be by commission members;

          (B)  Two members are to be selected by the Governor;

          (C)  The representation by the faith-based community has been deleted; and

          (D)  The process to fill a vacancy by appointment by the Governor has been deleted;

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1438, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1438, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism and Government Operations,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair