STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2325

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3187

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 3187 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BOARD OF REGENTS CANDIDATE ADVISORY COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to eliminate the University of Hawaii Board of Regents Candidate Advisory Council and authorize the Governor to directly appoint members to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, effective upon ratification of a constitutional amendment.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Kapi‘olani Community College Staff Council, Association of Emeritus Regents, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committee finds that the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii serve in an important role to guide the policies and trajectory of the University of Hawaii. During its initial enactment in 2006, the Board of Regents Candidate Advisory Council became a vital tool to select regents in a similar method to judges and justices in the Hawaii State Judiciary.

While the Candidate Advisory Council has proven effective during periods in which a high number of individuals apply, in recent years, the Candidate Advisory Council has only recommended a small number of individuals from which the Governor may select new regents. For example, while an applicant may apply for a student regent opening, their name may also be submitted under the county opening, if applicable, making the pool of candidates only seemingly more competitive. To address concerns over thorough vetting of Board of Regents applicants, this measure eliminates the Board of Regents Candidate Advisory Council, allowing the Governor to directly appoint regents with the advise and consent of the Senate.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 3187, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3187, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair