STAND. COM. REP. NO.  422-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2428

      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. 2428 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 enhance legislative oversight of the University of Hawaii by prohibiting it from funding construction projects that were not explicitly authorized by the Legislature by transferring moneys from the University of Hawaii special or revolving funds or transferring moneys from general funds appropriated to the University of Hawaii for other purposes.

Two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The University of Hawaii opposed the measure.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii's construction projects are consistently completed late and over-budget.  At the same time, however, the University has not requested funds for the cost overruns.  Your Committee believes that student tuition dollars are being used to cover these amounts, thereby adding to the student debt crisis in this state.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2525, to facilitate 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 Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2428, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2428, 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