STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1588

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 563

      S.D. 3

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 563, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, 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 address concerns with the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and Regents Candidate Advisory Council by amending the form and function of the Regents Candidate Advisory Council and amending the function of the Board of Regents.  More specifically, this measure, among other things:

     (1)  Details the duties and responsibilities of the Candidate Advisory Council, the successor to the Regents Candidate Advisory Council, including disclosure requirements and the development and implementation of a fair and independent procedure by which to evaluate candidates for the Board of Regents;

     (2)  Establishes a timeline for the filling of vacancies on the Board of Regents;

     (3)  Requires appointees to the Candidate Advisory Council to meet specified qualifications;

     (4)  Specifies factors the Senate must consider in determining whether to confirm a nominee to the Board of Regents;

     (5)  Requires that the election of the chairperson and vice chairperson of the Board of Regents take place at the Board's first meeting after June 30, rather than at a meeting preceding July 1, of each year;

     (6)  Repeals the Board of Regents' authority to elect up to two vice chairpersons; and

     (7)  Specifies that the chairperson and vice chairperson may not be elected prior to the appointment of Regents whose terms are to begin on July 1.

A concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Regents Candidate Advisory Council, and University of Hawaii Student Caucus provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 563, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 563, S.D. 3, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair