STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1769

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   S.C.R. No. 115

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 115, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO EXAMINE THE REASONABLENESS AND FEASIBILITY OF THE EXISTING POLICIES, STANDARDS, RULES, GUIDELINES, AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE UNIVERSITY HOUSING PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request:

 

(1)  The University of Hawaii, with the oversight of the Chairperson of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, to examine and assess the reasonableness and feasibility of the existing policies, standards, rules, guidelines, and procedures governing the University Housing Program; and

 

(2)  The University of Hawaii and Chairperson of the Board of Regents to submit a report of their findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2022.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

 

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii at Manoa University Housing Program, which consists of three housing projects located in Manoa, offers rental housing to tenure-track and tenured faculty and other employees of the University of Hawaii during their initial years of employment.  Your Committee also finds that a November 2019 report by the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Office of Internal Audit and previous reports issued in 2010 and 2013 identified various issues relating to the University Housing Program's noncompliance with the policies of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and the Internal Revenue Code.  The reports also raised concerns about deficiencies in the enforcement and operations regarding University of Hawaii faculty and employee housing.  This measure requests further examination and assessment of University of Hawaii employee housing with respect to the reasonableness and feasibility of existing policies, standards, rules, guidelines, and procedures governing the University Housing Program.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending its title to read, "REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO EXAMINE AND ASSESS THE REASONABLENESS AND FEASIBILITY OF THE CURRENT POLICIES, STANDARDS, RULES, GUIDELINES, AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE UNIVERSITY HOUSING PROGRAM.";

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the University of Hawaii examine and assess current, rather than existing, policies, standards, rules, guidelines, and procedures governing the University Housing Program;

 

     (3)  Requesting that the report to the Legislature include a matrix of the properties constituting Oahu Rental Projects and information on their tenants, including whether:

 

          (A)  The unit is occupied as of September 1, 2021, rather than as of May 1, 2021; and

 

          (B)  The tenant-faculty owns an interest in any other residential property on Oahu, rather than in the State; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 115, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 115, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair