STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1300
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 1378
H.D. 2
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Establish the Performing Arts Grants Program and Performing Arts Grants Special Fund to support performing arts in the State;
(2) Clarify the scope of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' responsibilities to include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events;
(3) Amend the funding sources for the State Art Museum;
(4) 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
(5) Appropriate funds.
Your Committee received testimony in
opposition to this measure from the Office of the Governor; State Foundation
on Culture and the Arts; SAG-AFTRA Hawaii Local, AFL-CIO; HŌʻĀ
Program; Hawaiʻi Arts
Alliance; Donkey Mill Art Center; Pride At Work-Hawaiʻi;
Honolulu Printmakers; ProArts Playhouse Maui; Hāna Arts; Hawaiʻi Health
& Harm Reduction Center; Honolulu Theatre for Youth; Hawaiʻi
Community Foundation; Kumu Kahua Theatre; Quovadis Design; Hula Preservation
Society; Hawaiʻi Forest
Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Craftsmen; ART+FLEA, MORI by
ART+FLEA; Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi; Puʻuhonua
Society; Maui Academy of Performing Arts; LVRG Group; Gravitas Pasifika;
Foundation for an Engaged Pacific; IATSE Local 665, AFL-CIO; and numerous
individuals.
Your Committee
received comments on this measure from the
Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development,
and Tourism; and Department of the Attorney General.
Your Committee finds that the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts administers and fosters programs that aim to support, promote, and recognize the excellence of the State's diverse artists. Your Committee further finds that there have been recent efforts to expand and develop programs that include performing arts and other initiatives that enhance an array of arts programming. Establishing a program and funding mechanism that specializes in furthering performing arts is critical to advance the art communities throughout the State.
Your Committee further finds that Hawaii was the first state in the nation to adopt a percent-for-art law which designates one percent of construction costs of new buildings for the acquisition of works of art. The percent-for-art law and the Works of Art Special Fund have been a cornerstone of the State's commitment to the arts. Your Committee recognizes that providing a stable funding source ensures the economic prosperity of the local art community and believes that it is imperative to execute sound financial management techniques as the art industry in the State continues to thrive and evolve.
Your Committee acknowledges the current funding concerns regarding the availability and continuation of federal grants and funds due to the new administration. Due to this fiscal uncertainty and potential grant instability, should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider an effective date later than July 1, 2025.
Accordingly, your Committee has
amended this measure by:
(1) Adding language to allow the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to acquire, hold, and maintain any property to support the mission of the Foundation and for the maintenance, security, operations, or renovations of facilities controlled by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts;
(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended
purpose; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments
for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,
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________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair |