STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2049

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2649

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2649 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the planning, design, and construction of a new building for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the Center on Disability Studies, and nineteen individuals.  Comments on the measure were also submitted by one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii is the State's only public system of higher education, from which much of Hawaii's workforce is educated and trained.  The State must ensure that adequate facilities and programs are provided to allow the university to offer high-quality education in a positive environment that is appealing to educators and students throughout the State, the country, and the world. 

     Currently, the College of Education at the Manoa campus is in dire need of funding for the design and construction of a new building following a devastating fire on June 13, 2006, and the disrepair of surrounding substitute buildings.  By all accounts, the condition of the facilities for the College of Education are woefully inadequate, potentially unsafe, termite-ridden, insect- and rat-infested, and generally unappealing.  This measure provides the necessary funding for the construction of a new building for the College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Your Committee believes that funding this project will not only provide for a safe, appropriate facility for the College of Education, but will also assist the university in recruiting qualified faculty and students for participation in the program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2649 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair