REPORT TITLE:
UH Autonomy


DESCRIPTION:
Provides fiscal autonomy to the University of Hawaii by allowing
it to submit its budget directly to the legislature.  (SB3141
HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        3141
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a strong university
 
 2 system can be a significant contributor to a robust economy,
 
 3 providing both quality higher education and dollars for the
 
 4 surrounding communities.  The legislature further finds that
 
 5 those universities that contribute to a significant degree to the
 
 6 community's economic well-being have broad authority to respond
 
 7 to changing opportunities.
 
 8      In recent years, the University of Hawaii has been granted
 
 9 increasing fiscal autonomy from the executive branch.  Last year,
 
10 the legislature passed a broad-based measure that gave the
 
11 university increased authority to manage its assets, personnel,
 
12 and programs.  Although the university received increased
 
13 autonomy, the legislature further finds that it is necessary to
 
14 grant the University of Hawaii more autonomy from the executive
 
15 branch to maximize the university's potential to grow as a world-
 
16 class institution and contribute to the State's economic
 
17 revitalization.
 
18      The purpose of this Act is to provide the University of
 
19 Hawaii with fiscal autonomy from the executive branch to provide
 
20 the university with opportunities and incentives for developing
 

 
Page 2                                                     3141
                                     S.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 an entrepreneurial, competitive role and contributing to Hawaii's
 
 2 economic growth.
 
 3      SECTION 2.  Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 4 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
 5 read as follows:
 
 6      "§304-    Administration; budget preparation and submission.
 
 7 (a)  The board of regents shall make an annual report to the
 
 8 legislature, at each regular session thereof, of the business of
 
 9 the University of Hawaii and of the administration of the
 
10 university system throughout the State.  The board of regents
 
11 shall present to the legislature a unified budget, six-year
 
12 program and financial plan, and variance report for all of the
 
13 colleges, departments, and programs of the University of Hawaii.
 
14 The president of the university, who shall be appointed by the
 
15 board of regents, shall direct the administration of the
 
16 University of Hawaii with responsibility for the efficient
 
17 operation of all of the colleges, departments, and programs.
 
18      (b)  The president of the university shall possess the
 
19 following powers, that may be delegated by the board of regents:
 
20      (1)  To prescribe for all of the colleges, departments, and
 
21           programs, a uniform system of keeping and periodically
 
22           reporting statistics of their business;
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     3141
                                     S.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (2)  To procure from all of the colleges, departments, and
 
 2           programs, estimates for their appropriations; with the
 
 3           cooperation of the representatives of the colleges,
 
 4           departments, and programs concerned to review and
 
 5           revise them as the president deems necessary for the
 
 6           equitable provision for the various colleges,
 
 7           departments, or programs according to their needs and
 
 8           to present the estimates, as reviewed and revised by
 
 9           the board of regents, to the legislature as
 
10           collectively constituting a unified budget for all of
 
11           the University of Hawaii;
 
12      (3)  To exercise exclusive authority over the preparation,
 
13           explanation, and administration of the University of
 
14           Hawaii budget, programs, plans, and expenditures,
 
15           including without limitation policies and practices of
 
16           financial administration and the establishment of
 
17           guidelines as to permissible expenditures; provided
 
18           that all expenditures of the University of Hawaii shall
 
19           be in conformance with program appropriations and
 
20           provisions of the legislature; and
 
21      (4)  To do all other acts which may be necessary or
 
22           appropriate for the administration of the University of
 
23           Hawaii.
 

 
Page 4                                                     3141
                                     S.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (c)  The budget, six-year program and financial plan, and
 
 2 the variance report of the University of Hawaii shall be
 
 3 submitted by the board of regents to the legislature in
 
 4 accordance with the schedule of submission specified for the
 
 5 governor in chapter 37 and shall contain the program information
 
 6 prescribed in that chapter.  By November 1 of each year preceding
 
 7 a legislative session in which a budget is to be submitted, the
 
 8 board of regents shall provide written notification to the
 
 9 governor of the proposed total expenditures, by cost categories
 
10 and sources of funding, and estimated revenues of the University
 
11 of Hawaii for each fiscal year of the next fiscal biennium."
 
12      SECTION 3.  Section 304-7.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
13 amended to read as follows:
 
14      "§304-7.5  Budget appropriations; University of Hawaii.(a)
 
15 Beginning in fiscal year 1998-1999, and every year thereafter,
 
16 the base general fund budget appropriations for the University of
 
17 Hawaii shall be an amount not less than three times and not
 
18 greater than five times the amount of regular tuition and related
 
19 fee revenues estimated for that fiscal year.
 
20      (b)  Any base general fund budget appropriation for the
 
21 University of Hawaii for operating purposes for any fiscal year
 
22 shall include the consideration of:
 
23      (1)  The fiscal condition of the State;
 

 
Page 5                                                     3141
                                     S.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (2)  Enrollment;
 
 2      (3)  Access to educational opportunity;
 
 3      (4)  The mix of resident and nonresident students; and
 
 4      (5)  Community service and noninstruction programs.
 
 5      (c)  No revenue received by the University of Hawaii
 
 6 pursuant to the University of Hawaii tuition and fees special
 
 7 fund established under section 304-16.5 may be used by the
 
 8 governor or the director of finance as a justification for
 
 9 reducing any budget request or allotment to the University of
 
10 Hawaii unless the university requests such a reduction."
 
11      (d)  As used in this section, "base general fund budget
 
12 appropriation" means the amount of general funds appropriated,
 
13 excluding any one-time appropriations made to a program, or other
 
14 appropriations that are restricted by bill or proviso."
 
15      SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
16 New statutory material is underscored.
 
17      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.