Bill Text: HI SCR20 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Sister State Relationship; Goa, India

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-04-28 - Received notice of Senate agreement and Adoption (Sen. Com No. 710). [SCR20 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SCR20-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	20
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE HAWAII SISTER-STATE COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INITIATION OF A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE OF GOA IN THE COUNTRY OF INDIA AND FORWARD ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE LEGISLATURE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 229-3, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, FOR FURTHER ACTION.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is actively seeking to expand its international ties and has an abiding interest in developing goodwill, friendship, and economic relations between the people of Hawaii and the people of many nations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Republic of India, one of the most diverse and the most populous democratic countries in South Asia, is recognized internationally as the future of economic development; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa is thought of as a leader in technology, and could provide opportunities for student exchanges with the University of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa, the twenty-fifth state of the Union of States of India, is a small state on the west coast of India, and like Hawaii, Goa's beautiful beaches and rich tropical landscape have made it a popular vacation destination for national and international visitors, and have attracted a robust surfing community; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa is one of the richest states in India, having the highest gross state domestic product per capita with tourism leading its economic growth; and a relationship between Goa and Hawaii would provide new opportunities to import and export goods and services between the states; and

 

     WHEREAS, a relationship between Hawaii and Goa will create new possibilities to share markets involving medicinal, herbal, and other food products, and to trade agricultural and culinary knowledge related to these products; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognized the Western Ghats mountain range as a World Heritage Site; and the biological, geological, cultural, and aesthetic resources of the Western Ghats that lie within Goa's boundaries are preserved by the designation of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserve forests; and

 

     WHEREAS, similar to Hawaii, Goa has an ethnically diverse population, and its people speak a variety of languages, including Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, and English; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa's people live harmoniously with each other while practicing a variety of religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism; and

 

     WHEREAS, Goa's diversity is also evident in its architectural landscape, with buildings showcasing a combination of Indian, Islamic, and Portuguese influences; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii and Goa are coastal states with diverse ecosystems, populations, cultures, languages, and religions that value the economic growth and sustainability that benefit all residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, pursuant to section 229-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii Sister-State Committee is tasked with evaluating and developing recommendations for the initiation of all sister-state relationships, and forwarding its recommendations to the Legislature for implementation by either adopting a concurrent resolution or enacting session law to that effect; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body believes that a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Goa would promote mutual commerce and trade in areas such as tourism and the film industry, and would increase opportunities for economic, social, cultural, educational, and environmental exchanges; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Sister-State Committee is requested to evaluate and develop recommendations to initiate a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii of the United States and Goa of the Republic of India for economic, social, cultural, educational, and environmental benefits; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Sister-State Committee report its findings and recommendation, including proposed legislation, relative to initiating a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Goa to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii; Governor of the State of Goa; Consul General of India in San Francisco; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Chair of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Sister State Relationship; Goa, India