STAND. COM. REP. NO. 311-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1923

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1923 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CREATIVE WORKFORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Creative Arts Workforce Grant Program, to be administered by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE Local 665, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Your Committee finds that the State's creative economy has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Hawaii being one of the top five states that have job losses in this sector greater than the national average of 30.3 percent. Your Committee further finds that establishing a grant program to develop and support a creative arts workforce is in the State's best interest.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to develop rules and guidelines for applying for and issuing Creative Arts Workforce grants;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2044, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1923, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1923, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair