Bill Text: HI HB474 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 474

Amended

Bill Title: Relating To The State Of Hawaii Museum Of Natural And Cultural History.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB474 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB474-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	474
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII MUSEUM OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, officially designated as the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History, is a distinguished scientific, cultural, and educational institution of the State whose mission is to perpetuate Hawaii's natural and cultural heritage. No other agency is tasked with the responsibility to preserve and protect Hawaii's invaluable collections of primary source material and over one hundred years of research across the Pacific. The historic, fifteen-acre campus alone is the repository of Hawaii's most important, extensive, and irreplaceable treasures, from holotype specimens to royal family heirlooms. These items provide residents and visitors with an anchor to Hawaii's past, serve as a reminder to be present, and provide a bridge to Hawaii's future.

The research and primary source material stewarded at Bishop Museum is a global resource that is unique, essential, and necessary to address the current urgent challenges faced by the State and its people, including massive biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and climate change and resilience.

The legislature further finds that Bishop Museum continues to raise public and private funds and collaborates with federal agencies and organizations, including the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Transportation, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Institute of Museum and Library Services; state agencies, including the department of land and natural resources, department of health, department of agriculture, department of education, and University of Hawaii; and county agencies and organizations, including the Honolulu mayor's office of culture and the arts, city and county of Honolulu office of climate change, sustainability and resiliency, and royal Hawaiian band, to generate new research and programs serving a wide array of needs and interests.

Bishop Museum provides regular access to collections and scientific expertise locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition, Bishop Museum provides vital educational programs and resources to Hawaii's students and teachers; actively supports the cultivation of sustainable, cultural, and responsible tourism in Hawaii; contains source knowledge utilized by cultural practitioners from Hawaii and across the Pacific; supports families; provides a neutral and safe place to discuss island-wide issues; and strengthens the community.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate federal funds to sustain and support the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, officially designated as the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the funds received by the State of Hawaii from the federal Act, Public Law , the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to sustain and support the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, officially designated as the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of budget and finance for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

Report Title:

State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History; Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates federal funds to sustain and support the State of Hawaii Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

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