HB 538 Summary

• Establishes the China-Hawaii Economic Council within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to further economic relations between China and Hawaii.

• Creates a seven-member China-Hawaii Economic Council Commission appointed by the governor to govern the council, with members receiving no compensation but reimbursed for expenses.

• Requires the council to appoint an executive director who must have education or experience in China-Hawaii relations and familiarity with both cultures, may serve part-time or full-time, and is exempt from civil service requirements.

• Mandates the inaugural China-Hawaii Economic Council general meeting be held by December 31, 2024, followed by annual meetings that may alternate between Hawaii and China and cover trade, tourism, education, investment, finance, communication, and culture.

• Appropriates unspecified general revenues for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, with funds to be expended by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; effective July 1, 2019.