HB1802

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that on March 3, 2003, President Bush signed Executive Order 13287, which established federal policy to provide leadership in preserving America's heritage by actively advancing the protection, enhancement, and contemporary use of the historic properties owned by the federal government. The Executive Order also encouraged agencies to seek partnerships with State, tribal, and local governments and the private sector to make more efficient and informed use of these resources for public benefits.

The legislature also finds that this Executive Order compliments a White House initiative called "Preserve America". "Preserve America" encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy the cultural and natural heritage of the country. Its goals include a greater shared knowledge about this nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets; and integration of these assets into contemporary community life, combining innovative, creative, and responsible approaches to showcasing historical local resources.

As part of the initiative, federal and non-federal partners came together in a summit in October 2006 to explore opportunities to build on past achievements of the national historic preservation program and suggested ways to modernize and improve the program moving forward. Organized into various panels and groups, the summit proposed several ideas and concepts in numerous issue areas, including the building of a preservation ethic and public appreciation for history, determining what is important to preserve, improving the preservation program infrastructure, using historic properties as economic assets, and fostering innovation, to name a few.

The legislature also finds that the State has a multitude of historical sites and a rich cultural heritage worthy of preservation. Although various government entities, nonprofits, and private citizens are involved in historic preservation, to this point, their efforts have not been coordinated, nor have common goals been articulated. Given the importance of our historical sites, their role in our current tourism-based economy, and as educational medium, an opportunity to share ideas and collaborate on goals and strategies for historic preservation would be prudent.

The purpose of this Act is to effect the means to convene a summit of various stakeholders committed to historic preservation.

SECTION 2. The State Historic Preservation Division shall compile a list of historic preservation stakeholders who will participate in a historic preservation summit. This list of stakeholders involved in historic preservation shall include:

(1) State government agencies;

(2) County government agencies;

(3) Nonprofits and charitable organizations;

(4) Corporations with a history of supporting historic preservation; and

(5) Individuals with a history of supporting historic preservation.

SECTION 3. The State Historic Preservation Division shall convene a summit dedicated to coordinating historic preservation efforts and establishing common goals and strategies for historic preservation in this State. The findings and conclusions of the summit shall be compiled by the State Historic Preservation Division and shall be submitted to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the opening of the 2008 regular session.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $_____, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the purposes of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1802
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII