STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1008-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3243

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 3243, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE HONOLULU SYMPHONY AND ITS PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide much-needed financial support for the Honolulu Symphony by appropriating $810,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the Symphony's operations, provided that if:

     (1)  $4,000,000 are transferred and deposited into the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund pursuant to Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006 (Act 97), as amended by Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007 (Act 156), the appropriation shall be void; and

     (2)  More than $3,190,000 and less than $4,000,000 are transferred and deposited into the Endowment Fund pursuant to Act 97 as amended by Act 156, the appropriated amount shall be reduced by the amount in excess of $3,190,000.

     The Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996, Hawaii Arts Alliance, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Accounting and General Services opposed this measure.  The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Honolulu Symphony, Honolulu Symphony Associates, and several concerned individuals submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the provisions that make the appropriation contingent upon the transfer and deposit of funds into the Endowment Fund pursuant to Act 97 as amended by Act 156;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified amount and the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3243, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3243, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair