STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1345
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: S.B. No. 1578
S.D. 2
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 Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1578, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Establish the official designation of the East-West Center as the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange between East and West, Inc., and exempt state fund appropriations to the East-West Center from chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Rename the Hawaii Sister-State Committee to the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission and amends its functions and membership;
(3) Require the Office of International Affairs to provide support to the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission;
(4) Expand the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's authority to establish out‑of‑state offices to include out-of-state facilities to support sister-state or province partnerships and other partnerships that promote and enrich the people, cultures, environments, and economies of the State and its international partners, generate revenue for the State, and buy property; and
(5) Appropriate funds.
Your Committee finds that Hawaii's international relationships have been instrumental in fostering economic growth, cultural exchange, and educational opportunities. This measure strengthens the State's commitment to global partnerships and empowers the East-West Center and state agencies to play a greater role in maintaining and leveraging these relationships for the long-term prosperity of Hawaii's residents.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Providing more context in the preamble regarding the East-West Center's history and public benefit that warrants its public financing going forward;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) 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 Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1578, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1578, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,
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____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair |
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