STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2869

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2896

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2896 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF JAPANESE EMIGRANTS TO HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii for the presentation and coordination of events and programs to celebrate and commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first arrival of the gannenmono, the first Japanese emigrants to Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that many diverse community organizations in the State are collectively planning events and celebrations to commemorate the arrival of the gannenmono. Supporting the year-long celebrations will foster cultural, educational, and business exchanges.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $150,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, 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. 2896, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2896, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair