HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2492

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of theatre and dance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is committed to providing its students with the finest training and performance opportunities in the world, and produces versatile graduates who develop the necessary knowledge, skill sets, and experiences expected in their chosen fields.  Due to its award-winning programs and a unique geographical location that bridges the East and the West, the department has also received local, national, and international recognition.  The department has received an imperial decoration from the government of Japan; a Rockefeller award from the Asian Cultural Council; a Kong Sanchuan award from China's national xiqu (Chinese opera) music association; a golden chrysanthemum award from China's national festival of jingju (Beijing opera); a 1987 state house of representatives certificate of commendation for "furthering international education and cultural exchange"; a 1990 state house of representatives certificate of congratulations for "enriching the lives of the People of Hawaii" through "extraordinary contributions to Asian theatre"; a 1985 state senate certificate of commendation for "furthering U.S.- China relations"; regional and national awards from the Kennedy Center American college theatre festival; regional and national awards from the American College Dance Festival; numerous Fulbright awards; Ford Foundation grants; Freeman Foundation grants; publication and production awards and support from the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China (Beijing) and the Jiangsu Province Department of Culture (Nanjing); and numerous Hawaii State Theatre Council and Hawaii State Dance Council awards.

     The department has also participated in national and international dance tours and Asian theatre productions.  The Association for Asian Performance named Dr. Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak, a professor of the department, one of six prestigious "Mothers of Asian Theatre Study in North America".  Students from the department have received the prestigious Doyle fellowship from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education; numerous fellowships and recognition by the Confucius China studies program from the Hanban (Ministry of the People's Republic of China, Beijing); the Chiang-Ching Kuo international fellowship for Chinese studies; the Crown Prince Akihito award and scholarship; and the Japan Foundation research fellowship.

     The legislature further finds that the department's national and international involvement brings recognition and status to the University of Hawaii and the entire State.  However, while similar departments at some of the nation's other state universities receive regular state and institutional funding for productions and non-tenure track positions that are essential for those productions, the University of Hawaii at Manoa's department of theatre and dance does not receive comparable support for productions and necessary staffing.

     Since 1997, the department has experienced a substantial decrease in funding from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to the extent that its program offerings affect student graduation and, even more severely, its renowned international Asian theatre program.  Decreased funding has also resulted in a reduction in equipment, supplies, and staff, which has lowered department morale, student opportunities required for educational theatres, and the number of performances for the community.

     The purpose of this Act is to support the department of theatre and dance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa by appropriating funds for:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent tenure track professor (1.0 FTE) in the Hawaiian theatre program;

     (2)  Two full-time staff positions (2.0 FTE), one of whom shall serve the department's costume shop, and one of whom shall serve the department's scene shop;

     (3)  The hiring of guest artists and instructors;

     (4)  The department's Asian theatre program; and

     (5)  Production support, including basic shop supplies.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for one full-time equivalent tenure track professor (1.0 FTE) in the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Hawaiian theatre program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for two full-time equivalent staff positions (2.0 FTE) in the University of Hawaii at Manoa's department of theatre and dance; provided that one position shall serve the department's costume shop and other position shall serve the department's scene shop.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for guest artists and instructors for the University of Hawaii at Manoa's department of theatre and dance.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Asian theatre program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for production support, including basic shop supplies, for the University of Hawaii at Manoa's department of theatre and dance.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2525.



 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii at Manoa; Department of Theatre and Dance; Appropriations

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for various programs and supporting functions for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  (HB2492 HD2)

 

 

 

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