CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 154

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1378

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (Foundation) to acquire and own property;

(2) Establish the Performing Arts Grants Program and Performing Arts Grants Special Fund to support performing arts in the State;

(3) Include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events in the scope of the Foundation's responsibilities;

(4) Amend the funding sources for the State Art Museum;

(5) Amend the amounts required to be transferred by agencies into the Works of Art Special Fund and the allowable uses of the Special Fund; and

(6) Appropriate funds for positions and cost items of the Foundation and to provide grants under the Performing Arts Grants Program.

Your Committee on Conference, after thoughtful deliberation and with the intent to promote clarity and financial stability and ensure that the Foundation can continue to support and enrich arts and cultural programs across Hawaii for generations to come, has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the preamble to reflect its amended purpose;

(2) Deleting language that authorizes the Foundation to acquire and own property;

(3) Amending the calculation of the one percent to be transferred to the Works of Art Special Fund and including an annual transfer amount to the Works of Art Special Fund, facilitated by an appropriation by the Legislature;

(4) Deleting the appropriation for positions and cost items for the Foundation for fiscal year 2026-2027, adding cost items, and changing various numbers of positions and appropriation amounts;

(5) Inserting an appropriation amount of $300,000 to provide grants under the Performing Arts Grants Program;

(6) Inserting an appropriation of $1,000 out of general obligation bond funds for the annual transfer amount;

(7) Changing the effective date to upon approval; provided that the appropriations take effect on July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CHRIS LEE Chair	____________________________ JEANNE KAPELA Co-Chair
____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO Co-Chair	____________________________ JENNA TAKENOUCHI Co-Chair