Committee approves temporary arts-data task force and statewide mapping project

Chair Lee moved HB 2117, a bill to establish an arts-data mapping task force to develop a publicly available statewide database and GIS map of arts entities and programs. The committee adopted amendments recommended by the Attorney General to clarify the task force is temporary and to insert a sunset date of 2029, then passed the bill with amendments.

Ian Robertson, Deputy Attorney General, recommended a clarifying amendment to make the task force explicitly temporary because it is not established within any department. Representatives of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (Arthur Buto speaking for Director Mary Alice Evans), Creative Industries at DPED, and the Hawaii Youth Symphony testified in support. Office of Planning staff offered to answer GIS-specific questions and said they stand ready to assist.

Committee members asked procedural questions about sunset language and department assignment. After discussion, the chair recommended adopting the AG amendment and passing the bill with amendments; the measure was adopted with five members present.