STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2897

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2539

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Technology and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 2539 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAINT MARIANNE COPE DAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to honor Saint Marianne Cope and her legacy by designating January 23 of each year as Saint Marianne Cope Day, which would not be a state holiday.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Catholic Conference, Hawaii Family Forum, and six individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Saint Marianne Cope of Molokai was a German-born American and a member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Syracuse, New York.  She spent many years caring for patients suffering from Hansen's disease on Molokai and was presented the medal of the Royal Order of Kapiolani by King Kalakaua.  On October 21, 2012, Mother Marianne was canonized as Saint Marianne Cope by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.  Saint Marianne is only the second person, after Father Damien, who had served in Hawaii to be canonized, and she is only the eleventh American citizen to receive the Roman Catholic Church's highest honor.  This measure honors Saint Marianne Cope for her charitable work, virtuous deeds, and enduring legacy in Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Technology and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2539 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Technology and the Arts,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair