STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3095

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2492

       H.D. 2

       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. 2492, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa by appropriating funds for:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent tenure track professor (1.0 FTE) in the Hawaiian theatre program;

     (2)  Two full-time staff positions (2.0 FTE), one of whom shall serve the Department's costume shop, and one of whom shall serve the Department's scene shop;

     (3)  The hiring of guest artists and instructors;

     (4)  The Department's Asian theatre program; and

     (5)  Production support, including basic shop supplies.  

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Soundtable Entertainment Inc.; and seventy-two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa culturally enriches students of the University, State residents, and many others around the world.  Your Committee further finds that the staff of the Department of Theatre and Dance have found resourceful ways to maximize their limited budget, and is likely to continue to use its resources effectively. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 2492, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2492, H.D. 2, 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