STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1098-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2546

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2546, 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 measure is to amend the form and function of the Regents Candidate Advisory Council for the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, most notably by requiring the Governor to directly appoint members of the Council according to specified conditions.

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly supported this bill.  The Governor supported the intent of this measure.  The Regents Candidate Advisory Council and two concerned individuals opposed this bill.

     This measure generated a robust discussion during the public hearing regarding the nature and function of the Regents Candidate Advisory Council.  For discussion purposes, your Committee notes in particular testimony that suggested alternate membership and membership terms for the Council. 

     Specifically, it was suggested that the membership be changed by increasing the membership from seven to eight, to include the executive secretary to the Board of Regents as a non-voting ex officio member and by replacing the member appointed by the chairperson of the Association of Emeritus Regents with the most recent emeritus chair of the Board of Regents.  In addition, testimony was offered that the terms of Council members appointed by the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives end coterminous with their appointing authority.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the current members of the Regents Candidate Advisory Council will be discharged from office upon the Governor's appointment of five members according to the established process; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2546, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2546, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

SCOTT NISHIMOTO, Chair