Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1192 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to help the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum (Lyon Arboretum) reach its potential as a research, scientific, and educational institution by appropriating funds for the operation, repair, and maintenance needed to address health and safety concerns resulting from decades of neglect.

The Steering Committee for a Community-Based Plan for Lyon Arboretum, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The University of Hawaii (UH) supported this measure with budgetary concerns. The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of the bill.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

Your Committee notes that the Lyon Arboretum, as a part of UH, is to work with UH to study alternative sources of funding so that a portion of or all funding can come from within the UH system, instead of from general funds.

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 H.B. No. 1192, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1192, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.