HB1831

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 87, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, limited the President of the University of Hawaii's full authority to act as chief procurement officer for the university for all procurement contracts by transferring that authority to the administrator of the state procurement office for university construction and construction-related professional services contracts in order to address concerns about the prudent and transparent management of public funds appropriated by the legislature and expended by the university for construction.

Since its enactment, Act 87 has resulted in a bifurcated procurement system at the university wherein a different set of rules and procedures applies depending on whether a particular procurement involves construction or construction related professional services for university construction projects. Procurements for construction or professional services furnished by contracting or construction licensees must comply with the Hawaii public procurement code and procedures governing state executive branch agencies, while procurements for other goods and services must comply with the Hawaii public procurement code and university executive and administrative procedures governing university transactions.

In January 2016, the state procurement office issued its report to the legislature as required under Act 87. The report documents extensive oversight, reviews, and coordination between the university and the state procurement office on procurements involving construction and professional services related to construction. The conclusion of the state procurement office in the report was that "based on SPO's review of 102 UH construction solicitations, UH's Administrative procedures, and 14 post-award Site Visits, SPO finds that UH is conducting construction procurements in a compliant, efficient and transparent manner." In the report, the state procurement office further set forth minimal recommendations for improvement and mentioned several university specific procedures as best-practices.

The purpose of this Act is to restore the authority of the University of Hawaii president to act as the university's chief procurement officer for procurement contracts for construction and professional services that do not exceed $ .

SECTION 2. Section 103D-203, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The chief procurement officer for each of the following state entities shall be:

(1) The judiciary--the administrative director of the courts;

(2) The senate--the president of the senate;

(3) The house of representatives--the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4) The office of Hawaiian affairs--the chairperson of the board;

(5) The University of Hawaii--the president of the University of Hawaii; provided that, except as specified in section 304A-2672(2), for contracts exceeding $ for construction and professional services furnished by licensees under chapter 464, the administrator of the state procurement office of the department of accounting and general services shall serve as the chief procurement officer;

(6) The department of education, excluding the Hawaii public library system--the superintendent of education;

(7) The Hawaii health systems corporation--the chief executive officer of the Hawaii health systems corporation; and

(8) The remaining departments of the executive branch of the State and all governmental bodies administratively attached to them--the administrator of the state procurement office of the department of accounting and general services."

SECTION 3. Section 304A-2672, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§304A-2672 Powers of the board. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the board may:

(1) Designate as a university project, any undertaking, improvement, or facility on any one or more of the areas in one or more of the educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the board;

(2) Construct and maintain university projects, including a university project included or to be in a university system; provided that [~~all~~] procurements exceeding $ for professional services furnished by licensees under chapter 464 for construction projects shall be coordinated with the department of accounting and general services on behalf of the board; provided further that the department of accounting and general services shall not be responsible for procurements determined by both the University of Hawaii and the department of accounting and general services to be professional services furnished by licensees under chapter 464 for repair and maintenance;

(3) Combine two or more university projects into a university system on one or more of the areas on any one or more of the educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the board, and to maintain the system;

(4) Combine two or more university projects, university systems, or university projects and university systems into a network, on any one or more of the areas on any one or more of the educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the board, and to maintain the network;

(5) Prescribe and collect rents, fees, and charges for the use of or services furnished by any university project and the facilities thereof, and pledge any appropriation to any university project and the facilities thereof that in aggregate, produces revenue of the university at least sufficient to comply with section 304A-2681;

(6) With the approval of the governor, issue revenue bonds under this subpart in such principal amount as may be authorized by the legislature from time to time to finance in whole or in part the cost of construction or the cost of maintenance of any university project, including funding reserves therefor;

(7) Pledge to the punctual payment of revenue bonds and interest thereon, all or any part of the revenue of the university, including any appropriation, in an amount sufficient to pay the revenue bonds and interest as the same become due and to create and maintain reasonable reserves therefor;

(8) Establish a loan program or a commercial paper program upon terms and conditions that the board may determine; and

(9) Advance moneys of the university, not otherwise required, and do any and all other lawful acts as may be necessary, convenient, or desirable, for carrying into execution and administering this subpart."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1831
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII