Report Title:

Office of International Affairs

Description:

Establishes an office of international affairs within the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1645

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the establishment of an office of international affairs.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that an office of international affairs would assist state efforts to coordinate and promote international business, economic, culture, and arts relations with other countries.

The purpose of this Act is to establish an office of international affairs.

SECTION 2. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§201-A Establishment of office of international affairs. (a) There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism an office of international affairs. The office shall be responsible for issues relating to peace, including the study of conditions conducive to domestic and international peace.

(b) The office shall be headed by an executive director who shall be appointed by the director without regard to chapter 76 and who shall serve at the director's pleasure. The director may employ other personnel necessary to carry out the duties of the office under this section.

(c) The office shall:

(1) Develop policy and promote and strengthen international business, economic, culture, and arts relations with other countries;

(2) Develop policies and promote transportation and tourism with other countries;

(3) Develop and promote international telecommunications and high technology exchanges internationally;

(4) Encourage the development of international sister city programs, pairing Hawaii cities with cites around the globe for artistic, cultural, economic, economic, educational, and faith-based exchanges;

(5) Develop and promote Hawaii as the economic, trade, commerce, transportation, banking, and tourism hub of the Pacific;

(6) Develop an international affairs and peace education curriculum, including studies of international affairs and peace initiatives to take a proactive, strategic approach in the development of policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict; and

(7) Provide for exchanges between Hawaii and other nations of individuals who endeavor to develop international affairs and peace-based initiatives."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________