STAND. COM. REP. NO. 219

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 625

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 625 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FESTIVAL OF PACIFIC ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the date on which the Temporary Commission on the Thirteenth Festival of Pacific Arts shall cease to exist to August 31, 2025; and

(2) Permit members of the Commission to discuss matters relating to official board business without regard to public noticing and Sunshine Law requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that the global COVID-19 pandemic requires postponing the Thirteenth Festival of Pacific Arts, which was originally scheduled for June 2020. Your Committee further finds that because of the necessary public health measures taken to combat COVID-19, allowing Commission members to meet and discuss matters relating to official board without regard to public noticing and Sunshine Law requirements will enable the members to faithfully perform their duties.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised by the Office of Information Practices that this measure does not provide specific situations that would fall outside of existing Sunshine Law exemptions and would allow the Temporary Commission on the Thirteenth Festival of Pacific Arts (Commission) to provide public notice, hear public testimony, and keep minutes on meetings only when and to the extent the Commission wished to.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2065, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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. 625, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 625, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair