STAND. COM. REP. NO. 681

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1378

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Culture & Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1378 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Performing Arts Grants Program, under the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' existing grant program, to support performing arts in the State;

(2) Clarify the scope of responsibilities of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events; and

(3) Appropriate funds to provide grants under the Performing Arts Grants Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Maui Pops Orchestra Inc; IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre; Castle Performing Arts Learning Center; Prince Dance Company; Hawaii Theatre Center; Hawaiʻi Arts Alliance; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the mission of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is to promote, perpetuate, preserve, and encourage culture and the arts as central to the quality of life and people of the State. One of the Foundation's strategic priorities includes increasing public accessibility to arts and culture. Your Committee also finds that the performing arts represent various mediums that express creativity through singing, dancing, theatre, and musical performances. Your Committee believes that this measure enables the performing arts to continue to provide the State's residents and visitors with creative, educational, and aesthetic performances that tell meaningful stories and provide engaging experiences.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing a Performing Arts Grants Special Fund and specifying its purpose;

(2) Inserting grant standards as recommended by the Department of the Attorney General to comply with the requirements for awarding grants of public money in article VII, section 4, of the Hawaii State Constitution;

(3) Removing language as it relates to the Works of Art Special Fund;

(4) Changing the appropriations to an unspecified amount;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture & Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1378, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JEANNE KAPELA, Chair