STAND. COM. REP. NO. 17-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1780

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1780 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORLD PEACE DAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate World Peace Day as a state holiday in substitution of the existing Good Friday state holiday.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Young Republicans; CARES; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association; Mary Star of the Sea Church; Pono Records; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining; Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu; United Public Workers; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that World Peace Day is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed around the world on September 21. The holiday is dedicated to world peace through observing twenty-four hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Your Committee additionally finds that as international conflict continues in the world, the recognition of world peace becomes more significant.

However, your Committee understands that the potential impact of the establishment and removal of official state holidays is a negotiable matter under collective bargaining and therefore finds that amendments to this measure are necessary to designate World Peace Day as an observed day, rather than as a state holiday.

Your Committee is amending this measure accordingly by:

(1) Designating World Peace Day as an observed day instead of a state holiday;

(2) Retaining the statutory designation of Good Friday as a state holiday;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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. 1780, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1780, 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,

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair