STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2965

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1654

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1654, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Campus Facility Board within the University of Hawaii to manage the funding of necessary repair and maintenance projects at University of Hawaii campuses statewide.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii System currently has a backlog of deferred repair and maintenance projects totaling over $480,000,000.  It is essential to the future of the University of Hawaii System and its students and faculty that safe and proper learning environments are provided and maintained.

     Your Committee further finds that this measure will establish a means to manage the funding of necessary repair and maintenance projects and assist the University of Hawaii System in addressing the current backlog.

     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 H.B. No. 1654, H.D. 1, 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 Higher Education,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair