STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2331

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2766

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2766 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY IN THE ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish an arts in the military program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Office of Veterans Services, Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Soundtable Entertainment Inc., Hawai‘i Arts Alliance, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's military community has a diverse range of experience and interests, including the arts.  Your Committee further finds that it is important to provide greater access to the arts for active duty military members, veterans, and their families.  The arts have proven to be an effective tool for bolstering the resilience of this population as well as accelerating the ability of military personnel to heal and carry out their commitment to this country.  Your Committee finds that it is important to support programs in the arts, culture, and the humanities so that all branches of the military have access to such programs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2766 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education and the Arts,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair