STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1195-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2202

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 S.B. No. 2202 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOLUNTEER MONTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate the month of April of each year as Volunteer Month in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that volunteers provide vital and valuable support to their communities, donating time and resources and providing services such as fundraising; preparing, distributing, or serving food; mentoring youth; supplying transportation; supporting and staffing fire and ambulance departments; and providing medical care. The contributions of volunteers have been particularly essential during the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with countless individuals volunteering their time, effort, and skill to administer vaccines and staff vaccination centers; conduct testing and contact tracing; and provide food, water, and other necessities to individuals in quarantine. Your Committee further finds that, on a national level, April has long been dedicated to the recognition of the services volunteers provide in their communities. This measure honors the good deeds performed by volunteers and encourages volunteerism by designating April of each year as Volunteer Month in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2044, 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 S.B. No. 2202, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2202, 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