STAND. COM. REP. NO. 259

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 577
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred S.B. No. 577 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION TO CELEBRATE
     THE ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE PUERTO
     RICANS TO HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:
     
     The purpose of this measure is to establish a Puerto Rican
Centennial Celebration Commission and appropriate an unspecified
sum to fund the work of the Commission.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Puerto Rican Heritage Society of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the first Puerto Ricans arrived in
Hawaii on December 23, 1900.  In celebration of this event, the
Puerto Rican community in Hawaii will hold a series of statewide
events in the year 2000.

     Your Committee believes it is important to acknowledge and
support the many cultures that make up Hawaii, and to educate all
Hawaii's citizens in the contributions these varied cultures have
made in the islands.  Your Committee is in support of this
measure to acknowledge the history of the Puerto Rican people in
Hawaii.  Your Committee has amended this measure to delete the
section entitled "cooperation" as this language is included under
"powers and duties" of the commission.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 259
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education and Technology that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 577, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 577,
S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Education and
                                   Technology,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
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