Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1256 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose an amendment to article X, section 6, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to modify the University of Hawaii Board of Regents' appointment process.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Hawaii Government Employees Association Bargaining Unit 8, the University of Hawaii Student Caucus, and one individual.

The present system of direct nomination of members of the Board of Regents by the Governor has the potential for being overly political and thus interfering with the desire of the Legislature to increase the autonomy of the University of Hawaii system. The system of nomination could be considerably improved by narrowing the choice of nominees to a list of individuals who have been carefully chosen by a knowledgeable candidate advisory council.

Your Committee finds that modifying the selection process for the Board of Regents as provided in this measure will increase the regents' autonomy, modernize the University's governance, and strengthen the selection process by providing an independent screening body to identify outstanding candidates.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1256 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.