STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1158-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2263

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2263, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to promote openness in government by requiring the University of Hawaii (UH) to disclose information regarding certain proposed compensation or changes in compensation in open meeting.  Specifically, this bill:

     (1)  Requires UH to disclose in open meeting for purposes of public comment, proposed compensation or changes in compensation for executive/managerial positions in the UH system that are filled by excluded employees; and

     (2)  Requires the UH Board of Regents (Board) to disclose in open meetings for the purpose of public comment, all documents regarding expenditures and related changes, and to make available to the public at least six calendar days before the meeting, all expenditure requests, proposals, and any other budgetary documents used by the Board at the meeting.

     A concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  UH opposed this measure.  The Office of Information Practices and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly offered comments.

     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. 2263, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair