STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1343

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1375

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1375, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII MUSEUM OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to support the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Bishop Museum Association Council, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, Society of Hawaiian Archaeology, Bishop Museum, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, designated as the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History, is significant for its cultural, architectural, educational, scientific, and historical contributions to Hawaii. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Hawaii's most significant and iconic buildings. Your Committee further finds that Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum researchers have discovered over seventeen thousand species of plants, animals, and insects throughout the Pacific region and have made countless discoveries related to the migration, settlement, and daily life of Pacific people. Not only does the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum conduct research, but it also provides vital education to the public, including thousands of Hawaii's schoolchildren.

Your Committee also finds that the annual appropriation to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum has decreased significantly over the preceding decade. This measure will appropriate funds to the Department of Budget and Finance, which will enable the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum to continue its work.

Your Committee notes that S.B. No. 699, S.D. 2 (Regular Session of 2019), which was previously passed by the Senate, also appropriates funds to support the work of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. Your Committee concludes that the language in section 2 of S.B. No. 699, S.D. 2, is preferable because it requires the Governor to include in the executive budget a minimum amount per fiscal year as a recurring cost to be allocated to the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing section 2 and replacing it with the contents of section 2 of S.B. No. 699, S.D. 2, which beginning with the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium and each fiscal biennium thereafter, requires the Governor to include in the executive budget a minimum amount per fiscal year as a recurring cost to be allocated to the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $2,000,000 to the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History to support the work of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, including but not limited to collections care and student learning programs; 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 Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1375, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1375, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair