STAND. COM. REP. NO. 843

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 194

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 194, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN HAWAII AND AFRICAN AMERICANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Commission on African American History and Culture to further the understanding of African American history and culture in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Guide Star Engineering, LLC, and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that African Americans have contributed considerably to Hawaii and its culture for at least one hundred seventy-five years.  Despite this long history and the connection of many notable African Americans to Hawaii, African American history and culture in Hawaii is not well documented or appreciated.  By establishing a commission to organize projects and events and educate residents and visitors about the African American experience in Hawaii, the State may help further the understanding of African American history and culture in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Placing the commission in the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, rather than the Office of the Governor, for administrative purposes;

(2)  Adding provisions that dissolve the commission and sunset the measure on June 30, 2017; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 194, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 194, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair