STAND. COM. REP. NO.  220-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1609

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1609 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 require the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to develop procedures for the utilization of university facilities by:

     (1)  Requiring the administration of the different UH campuses to collect and report data relating to facilities utilization; and

     (2)  Prohibiting the UH Board of Regents from approving the construction of a new university building until a public hearing is held to discuss facility utilization and cost.

Several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The University of Hawaii testified supporting the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2525, to facilitate further discussion.

     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. 1609, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1609, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair