STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3099

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2224

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 2224, 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 provide additional resources to the University of Hawaii Pamantasan Council to help the State and University of Hawaii meet strategic goals for greater access to and diversity in higher education by appropriating funds for four full-time equivalent positions for the system-wide Pamantasan Council, including instructional faculty, student personnel, and graduate assistantships.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System; University of Hawaii Pamantasan Council; Filipino American Citizens League; Filipinos for Affirmative Action; Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc.; Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training; and ten individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that despite their high representation in the general population and schools within the Department of Education, students of Filipino ancestry are underrepresented in the University of Hawaii System.  Only twelve percent of the students in the entire University of Hawaii System student population are of Filipino ancestry.  Six percent of the community colleges faculty and two and one half percent of the University of Hawaii at Manoa faculty are of Filipino ancestry.  The fifteen percent postsecondary degree rate held by Filipinos is the lowest among all ethnic groups in Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a blank amount of authorized full-time equivalent positions; and

     (2)  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 and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2224, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2224, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair