Report Title:

Senator Hiram L. Fong Commission

Description:

Establishes a commission to recognize and honor Senator Hiram L. Fong. Provides $2,000 for the commission. (HB283 CD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

283

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

C.D. 1


A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SENATOR HIRAM L. FONG.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Senator Hiram L. Fong provided over thirty years of outstanding public service. He began his career in public service at the age of thirty-one, by serving from 1938 to 1954 in Hawaii's territorial house of representatives. Early on, Senator Hiram L. Fong showed his ability to work well with both Democrats and Republicans as he forged a coalition of independents from both parties and was elected as the speaker of the house of representatives during his first term. He went on to serve seventeen years in the United States Senate, where he was the first Asian-American senator. When Senator Hiram L. Fong left politics, he focused on building a financial empire based on real estate, insurance, and financing. After a long and distinguished career as a public servant and businessman, Senator Hiram L. Fong died in 2004 at the age of ninety-seven.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a commission to recognize and honor Senator Hiram L. Fong.

SECTION 2. There is established a temporary commission to be known as the Senator Hiram L. Fong commission, which shall have charge of all arrangements for recognizing and honoring Senator Hiram L. Fong. The commission shall be placed within the office of the governor for administrative purposes and shall cease to exist after December 31, 2009.

SECTION 3. The commission shall consist of eleven members to be appointed, without regard to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as follows:

(1) Three by the speaker of the house of representatives; (2) Three by the president of the senate;

(3) Three by the governor;

(4) One by the mayor of the city and county of Honolulu; and

(5) One by the Honolulu city council.

The commission members shall include a member from the family of Senator Hiram L. Fong, the Chinese-American community, the business community, the labor unions, and the University of Hawaii. The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall, by mutual agreement, designate a chair pro tem from among the appointed members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. An individual appointed to another commission may be eligible to be appointed as a member of this commission.

The members shall not receive compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties under this Act.

Any member of the commission shall be immune from civil liability, as provided for under section 26-35.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. The commission shall research and recommend how the State can honor Senator Hiram L. Fong and shall submit to the legislature, no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2006, a written report of its recommendations, including the following:

(1) Developing a detailed plan on how to execute its recommendations;

(2) Identifying a nonprofit organization that will be responsible for any moneys received or expended for honoring Senator Hiram L. Fong;

(3) Identifying and recommending procedures for the appropriate disbursal of any public funds received by the nonprofit organization; and

(4) Developing, planning, and coordinating the various program activities that are to be scheduled to honor Senator Hiram L. Fong.

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the commission shall consult, cooperate with, and seek advice from appropriate organizations and agencies. The department of accounting and general services shall assist the commission.

SECTION 5. The commission may seek grants from public and private sources and may accept donations to finance the projects, programs, and activities of the commission. Any such funds received by the commission shall be turned over to the nonprofit organization responsible for any moneys received or expended for honoring Senator Hiram L. Fong.

All property acquired by the commission shall be deposited for preservation in the Hawaii state public library system, museums, and public archives or shall otherwise be disposed of as directed by the commission.

SECTION 6. At the end of its term, the commission shall submit to the governor a final report of all its activities, including an accounting of all moneys received and disbursed. The report shall include, as applicable, a description of:

(1) The production, publication, and distribution of books, films, and other educational materials on the life and experiences of Senator Hiram L. Fong;

(2) Conferences, conventions, lectures, and seminars on the life and experiences of Senator Hiram L. Fong; and

(3) Traveling exhibits, other exhibits, ceremonies, theatrical productions, and other special events honoring Senator Hiram L. Fong.

SECTION 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 to be used by the Senator Hiram L. Fong commission for the purposes of this Act and in accordance with chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the governor for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.