STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2333

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2905

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 S.B. No. 2905 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 appropriate funds to the Office of Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to fund five part-time graduate assistant and student employee (2.5 FTE) positions to conduct and disseminate research relating to Asian American and Pacific Islander students in higher education, and to provide direct services to undergraduate and graduate students interested in diversity careers in student affairs and higher education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; Filipino American Citizens League; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region 12; Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc.; and fifteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that there is a need for research to address the underrepresentation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in higher education institutions.  This measure will provide the Office of Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity at the University of Hawaii at Manoa with resources to support undergraduate and graduate students interested in diversity careers in student affairs and higher education.

     If this measure is considered for passage by your Committee on Ways and Means, your Committee notes that the University of Hawaii has indicated the need for $190,000 in funding.

     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. 2905 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