STAND. COM. REP. NO.  413

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 96

      H.D. 1

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. 96 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 establish statutorily the Office of the Ombuds at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa Graduate Student Organization, University of Hawaii Student Caucus, Hawaii Educational Policy Center, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The University of Hawaii and a concerned individual submitted comments.

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

     Should your Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $130,000 for the position of the ombuds and $80,000 for two support positions.

     Your Committee also notes that it is worthwhile to consider having the functions of the Office of the Ombuds at the University of Hawaii at Manoa be undertaken by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Legislature.

     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. 96, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 96, H.D. 1, 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