HSCR481

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 481

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2015

RE: H.B. No. 552

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 552 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 broaden the representation of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii by, among other things:

(1) Increasing the number of members on the Board of Regents from fifteen to eighteen;

(2) Requiring that at least one member of the Board of Regents must be an undergraduate student at any campus of the University of Hawaii system, including any community college;

(3) Requiring that at least one member of the Board of Regents must be a graduate student at any campus of the University of Hawaii system;

(4) Requiring that at least one member of the Board of Regents must be a faculty member for a graduate or research program at any campus of the University of Hawaii system; and

(5) Requiring that at least one member of the Board of Regents must be a faculty member at any campus of the University of Hawaii system.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa Graduate Student Organization, University of Hawaii Student Caucus, Student Activities Council of Maui College, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure. A concerned individual opposed the measure. The Hawaii Government Employees Association and several concerned individuals submitted comments.

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. 552 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair