SB1578 Summary

• Establishes the official designation of the East-West Center as the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, Inc., and exempts state fund appropriations to it from chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

• Renames the Hawaii Sister-State Committee to the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission and restructures its membership to include representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the East-West Center, and legislative appointees.

• Requires the Office of International Affairs to provide support to the Hawaii Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission.

• Expands the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's authority to establish out-of-state offices and facilities to support sister-state partnerships, generate revenue for the State, and purchase property.

• Appropriates $200,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to develop an updated international engagement strategy, and $4,000,000 annually for the same period to the East-West Center for international relationships and programs.