STAND. COM. REP. NO. 536

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 54

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 54 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for capital improvement projects for the University of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the University of Hawai‘i, the College of Education of the University of Hawai‘i, the Faculty of the College of Education of the University of Hawai‘i, the College of Arts & Humanities of the University of Hawai‘i, the American Chemistry Council, the William S. Richardson School of Law, the Center on Disability Studies, the University of Hawai‘i College of Education Alumni Association, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and one hundred nineteen individuals.  The Hawaii Carpenters Union submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii (UH) 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 UH to offer high-quality education in a positive environment that is appealing to educators and students throughout the State, the country, and the world.  This measure provides the necessary funding for capital improvement projects at campuses throughout the UH system.

     Your Committee understands that although this measure provides for eighteen capital improvement projects throughout the UH system, the Board of Regents of the UH actually approved twenty-seven projects, many of which were not included in the Executive Budget.  Your Committee believes that all capital improvement projects approved by the Board of Regents should be appropriately considered by the Legislature and has included the additional projects in this measure.

     Additionally, testimony was provided that raised concerns about the provision in the measure requiring all construction and renovation work under this measure to meet or exceed the applicable Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating standards.  Your Committee understands that this requirement may be too restrictive and believes the language should instead reflect other statutory requirements regarding green building standards.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including funding for the following capital improvement projects:

          (A)  Saunders Hall, UH at Manoa;

          (B)  Campus development, University of Hawaii at West Oahu;

          (C)  Waianae Education Center, Leeward Community College;

          (D)  Native Hawaii Success Centers, UH-Systemwide;

          (E)  Science Building, Maui Community College;

          (F)  Campus Center, addition and renovation, UH at Hilo;

          (G)  Pacific Aerospace Training Center, re-roof hangar 111, Honolulu Community College;

          (H)  Gartley Hall renovation, UH at Manoa;

          (I)  Law school expansion and renovation, UH at Manoa; and

          (J)  Performing Arts facility and parking structure, UH at Manoa;

     (2)  Including unspecified appropriation amounts for all projects;

     (3)  Changing the method of funding for certain projects from general revenues to either federal, private, or revolving funds, as appropriate; and

     (4)  Requiring all construction and renovation work under this measure to meet or exceed either the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating system or another comparable state-approved, nationally recognized, and consensus based guideline standard, or system, except when the guideline standard or system interferes or conflicts with the use of the building or facility as an emergency shelter.

     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. 54, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 54, S.D. 1, 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