STAND. COM. REP. NO. 509-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2449

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2449, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE ARCHIVES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds for additional staff positions in the Hawaii State Archives to assist with its mission and increase public access to historical documents and artifacts;

(2) Provide funds for the construction of an additional building to address the current and future facilities needs of the Hawaii State Archives;

(3) Require all departments, offices, and agencies of the State to conduct an inventory of all documents in their possession related to the culture and history of Hawaii and Native Hawaiians and submit a report on the inventory; and

(4) Require the Hawaii State Archives to develop a plan to acquire those documents and submit the plan to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Hawaii State Archives. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Archives contains records dating from the monarchy to the current legislative session, papers of individuals and organizations, photographs, maps, artifacts, rare books, and collections specializing in Hawaiian history and culture. The Hawaii State Archives Historical Records Branch preserves and provides access to the State's government archives and special collections. This measure provides funds for additional staff positions in the Hawaii State Archives which will enable greater and more efficient public access to documents and records maintained and stored by the Hawaii State Archives.

Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs respectfully requests it consider appropriating $720,000 for additional staff positions in the Hawaii State Archives.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2449, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair