STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3084

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 13

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.R. No. 13 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII NOT TO RAISE STUDENT FEES TO BALANCE THE BUDGET OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT OR BUDGET DEFICIT OF ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii not to raise student fees to balance the budget of the University of Hawaii Athletics Department or budget deficit of any other University of Hawaii department.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii Athletics Department is facing a potential budget deficit of $2,000,000, and there are concerns that the University may raise student fees in order to offset the Athletics Department's deficit.

     Your Committee further finds that students should not be asked to shoulder the burden of making up for the budget deficit of the Athletics Department or budget deficit of any other department at the University of Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 13 and recommends that it 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