STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3154

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2353

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2353, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make miscellaneous technical amendments to update language and facilitate library operations, including amending provisions related to the detention of public library materials and administration of the library fee for enhanced services special fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Public Library System, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's public libraries offer many public benefits, including acting as community gathering places where learning happens and knowledge is shared. Many members of the public, including children and kupuna, rely on the public library system, which necessitates the need for the system to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Your Committee further finds that since the Hawaii State Library Foundation is now Friends of the Library of Hawaii following a merger of the two organizations in 2004, it is appropriate to update references to the organization in state law. Additionally, to further reduce the burden of substantial fees for the organization to hold a minimum amount of funds with a trust company, it is appropriate to remove language that would impose further trust fund requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing references to the Hawaii State Library Foundation to the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i;

(2) Changing the name of the Hawaii state library foundation trust fund to the friends of the library of Hawai‘i program fund and clarifying its functions; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2353, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2353, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair