STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2995

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1855

       H.D. 1

       S.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. 1855, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the sale or gift of the University of Hawaii at West Oahu land acquired pursuant to Act 294, Session Laws of Hawaii 1996 (Act 294), without the prior consent of the Legislature.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  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 while the University of Hawaii West Oahu campus has grown and continues to grow, there remains significant acreage of land that could be used for revenue-generating purposes since the University of Hawaii System does not currently have any concrete plans for this land.

     Your Committee further finds that the disposition of land with the potential for revenue generation is an issue of statewide concern.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by: 

     (1)  Deleting language prohibiting the sale or gift of the University of Hawaii at West Oahu land acquired pursuant to Act 294 without the prior consent of the Legislature;

     (2)  Adding language prohibiting the sale or gift of the University of Hawaii at West Oahu land acquired pursuant to Act 294 for a period of two years;

     (3)  Adding language requiring the University of Hawaii to report to the Legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016, its updated policy on land sales and its plan for the University of Hawaii at West Oahu land acquired pursuant to Act 294;

     (4)  Making this measure effective upon its approval, with a sunset date of June 30, 2016; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 1855, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1855, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, 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