STAND. COM. REP. NO. 798

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 601

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 601, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KING KAMEHAMEHA CELEBRATION COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the King Kamehameha Commission in the performance of its statutory responsibilities.

     More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Establishes the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission special fund and appropriates moneys to the fund for the purpose of paying expenses arising out of King Kamehameha Day celebration events;

(2)  Amends provisions relating to the membership and duties of the Commission; and

(3)  Requires the Commission to appoint an executive director.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, Miss Rodeo Hawaii Program, and five individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that that the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission is made up of dedicated volunteers who have a variety of statutory responsibilities, the most significant being the commemoration of King Kamehameha on King Kamehameha Day each June.  In planning commemoration events, the Commission is often limited by a lack of funding and a lack of business and related experience among its membership.  Your Committee believes that creating a special fund to help pay for commemoration events, expanding and raising standards for membership on the Commission, and appointing an executive director will help the Commission overcome the struggles that have limited its performance in the past.

     To facilitate further discussion, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the amount of the appropriation for fiscal year 2017-2018 for deposit into the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission special fund from $200,000 to an unspecified sum; and

(2)  Changing the amount of the appropriation from the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission special fund for fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, respectively, from $100,000 to an unspecified sum;

(3)  Changing the effective date to March 9, 2092.

     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. 601, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 601, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair