SB520 HD1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	520
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

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

SECTION 1. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"CHAPTER

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROTOCOL

"§ -1 Legislative protocol fund; international affairs. (a) There is established a legislative protocol fund to be administered by the legislature.

(b) Appropriations made by the legislature shall be deposited into the fund.

(c) The fund shall be used to extend protocol courtesies to visiting international dignitaries and government officials."

SECTION 2. Section 201-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§201‑17[]] Office of international affairs; established. (a) There is established, within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, an office of international affairs.

(b) The office shall:

(1) Develop policies that promote and strengthen relations with other countries in the areas of international business, economy, culture, education, and the arts;

(2) Develop policies that promote transportation between, and tourism with, other countries;

(3) Develop and promote international telecommunications and high technology exchanges;

(4) Encourage the development of international sister-city programs, pairing Hawaii cities with cities around the globe for artistic, cultural, economic, educational, and faith-based exchanges;

(5) Develop and promote Hawaii as the economic, trade, commerce, transportation, banking, [~~and~~] tourism, regional-headquarters, and international-conference hub of the [~~Pacific;~~] Asia-Pacific region;

(6) Develop an international affairs and peace education curriculum that includes studies of international affairs and peace initiatives and takes a proactive, strategic approach to the development of policies that promote the prevention of national and international conflict, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict; [~~and~~]

(7) Provide for exchanges of individuals between Hawaii and other nations to develop international and peace-based initiatives[.];

(8) Be the state's central point of contact and accountability in international affairs and serve as the state's advocate for a global orientation;

(9) Inventory existing international programs and develop a web-based information portal to make this information available to the public;

(10) Encourage the holding of international conferences in Hawaii;

(11) Encourage the development of international programming and content on local radio shows and a dedicated public access channel for international programs and issues; and

(12) Encourage the holding of international sporting events and competitions in Hawaii.

[(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if any of the responsibilities or duties of the office of international affairs under this section overlap with the responsibilities or duties of another agency or authority under this chapter, the office of international affairs shall have exclusive jurisdiction and authority over those responsibilities and duties.]"

SECTION 3. 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 2008-2009 to hire an executive director and an administrative assistant for the office of international affairs and for operating and program expenses.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.