STAND. COM. REP. NO. 530

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 453

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 453 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 6, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO MODIFY THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose an amendment to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution to repeal the requirement that the Governor make appointments to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii from pools of qualified candidates presented to the Governor by the Candidate Advisory Council for the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii (Candidate Advisory Council).

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Policy Office of the Governor.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii Regents Candidate Advisory Council.

     Your Committee finds that it has become clear that the Governor will not be able to adequately select nominees to the Board of Regents unless the Governor has more control and involvement in the recruitment and selection process.  Your Committee believes that it is appropriate to reassess and seriously consider repealing the Candidate Advisory Council.  This measure will allow voters to consider whether the Candidate Advisory Council should no longer be constitutionally mandated and authorize the Governor to make appointments as provided by law.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 453 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair