CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 198

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 398

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Address the shortage of qualified public school teachers in the State by requiring the University of Hawaii to temporarily establish additional distance-learning classes in teaching for students who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in education; and

(2) Amend the composition and responsibilities of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, including by:

(A) Reducing the number of board members from 15 to 11;

(B) Requiring that of the five board members representing the City and County of Honolulu, three members must represent and reside in the First Congressional District of Hawaii and two members must represent and reside in the Second Congressional District of Hawaii;

(C) Requiring the Board of Regents to hold the president and administration of the University of Hawaii accountable for decisions, actions, and leases that incur additional costs to the University; and

(D) Establishing holdover provisions for the members of the Board of Regents.

After careful consideration, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the requirement that the University of Hawaii temporarily establish additional distance-learning classes in teaching for students who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in education;

(2) Deleting the requirement that the members of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii who represent the City and County of Honolulu must represent and reside in certain geographical regions;

(3) Deleting the requirement that the University of Hawaii Board of Regents hold the president and administration of the University of Hawaii accountable for decisions, actions, and leases that incur additional costs to the University;

(4) Changing its effective date to June 30, 2019; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee on Conference notes that this measure provides for a smooth transition so that current members of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents can complete their current terms of office.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 398, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Chair	____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair
____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair	____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair