STAND. COM. REP. NO. 707

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 825

       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. 825, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN HAWAII AND PUERTO RICO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize the achievements and contributions of the Puerto Rican community in Hawaii.

Specifically, the measure establishes a Puerto Rican Exchange Commission to honor and recognize the contributions of the Puerto Rican people to Hawaii and commemorate the first Puerto Ricans to arrive in Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that like Hawaii, Puerto Rico is a strong island society with large agricultural and tourist industries.  These similarities are just the beginning of the relationship between the islands.  Puerto Rican immigration to Hawaii began in the early twentieth century, and ever since, Puerto Rican culture has played a significant role in Hawaii's culture.  The creation of a commission to honor, recognize, and commemorate the heritage of the Puerto Rican culture will help Hawaii better understand and appreciate the rich contributions that Puerto Rican culture has made to Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Placing the Commission in the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts instead of the Governor's Office;

(2)  Requiring the Commission to submit reports to the Legislature as well as the Governor; and

(3)  Deleting the appropriation for developing, planning, and coordinating various programs related to the cultural exchange program.

     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. 825, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 825, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair