Bill Text: HI SB1487 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To The Hawaii Children's Discovery Center.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-28 - Referred to LCA, WAM. [SB1487 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB1487-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1487
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the hawaii children's discovery center.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that children's museums play a significant role in promoting lifelong learning and serve as important cultural resources within the community.  As an island state, Hawaii is isolated from the rest of the United States and the world.  For many children, this means that their personal experiences and interactions are severely limited to what is available within the State.  In order to broaden their horizons and open new and wonderful worlds to them, a facility such as a children's museum is especially important.

     Incorporated in 1985, the Hawaii Children's Museum was the first and only museum in Hawaii designed especially for children.  Its mission was to bring information and experiences about the world beyond Hawaii to the children of Hawaii and instill in the State's keiki a pride in themselves and their ethnic and cultural heritage by providing them with an inspiring and educational world-class participatory learning environment.  After searching for a larger site for relocation, the former Kaka‘ako landfill was transformed into a waterfront park, and the former city incinerator became a beehive of activity for children from across the Hawaiian islands.  The Hawaii children's discovery center, the first and only of its kind in Hawaii, was known largely through word of mouth and its growing reputation as a world-class children's museum.  Local families, school groups, and tourists flocked to the museum, which grew to serve over one hundred twenty thousand visitors a year.

     The legislature further finds that things have changed significantly and, in spite of the rising costs associated with day-to-day operations, the Hawaii children's discovery center continues to strive to cover operating expenses largely through various sources of earned income.  Although very successful in its efforts to operate this way in the past, this has taken a costly toll on a small staff that serves a very large audience, which necessitates additional staff and a management team.  To further exacerbate the problem, Kaka‘ako makai has become densely populated with homeless encampments, which have surrounded the Hawaii children's discovery center for many years increasing the occurrences of vandalism and vagrancy.  With the growing homeless population throughout the State, the area is currently overrun by a population of chronically homeless individuals, many with mental health issues and drug and alcohol addictions.  This dilemma proves to be a huge deterrent to members and guests who want to visit the center and has resulted in a significant decline in attendance.

     The purpose of this Act is to designate the Hawaii children's discovery center as the official State of Hawaii Children's Museum to spotlight the center and raise its institutional status.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§6E-    Hawaii Children's Discovery Center.  The official designation of the Hawaii children's discovery center shall be the State of Hawaii Children's Museum.  The qualifying standards and conditions related to the receipt of funds contained in chapter 42F shall not apply to funds received by the State of Hawaii Children's Museum; provided that if the museum in turn contracts with a recipient or provider, then the qualifying standards, conditions, and other provisions of chapter 42F shall apply to the recipient or provider and the contract."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Children's Discovery Center; Designation

 

Description:

Designates the Hawaii children's discovery center as the State of Hawaii Children's Museum.

 

 

 

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