STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2265

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3355

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. 3355 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide enabling legislation for a constitutional amendment that proposes the establishment of a President of Community Colleges who shall be the head of the University of Hawaii community colleges.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Association of Emeritus Regents and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

Your Committee finds that, due to the rising costs of higher education, there is a shift to focus on the more cost-effective opportunities that community colleges can provide to Hawaii's future workforce in career development, general postsecondary education, and transition pathways to four-year institutions. Despite serving a key role in preparing Hawaii residents for future education and career pathway credentialing that can lead to higher wages at less cost, the community colleges lack representation at the highest level when key decisions are made impacting community colleges. Because of the crucial role community colleges play in workforce development through higher education across the State, this lack of representation is a matter of statewide concern.

Your Committee further finds these concerns warrant attention and notes that while a constitutional amendment contemplated under this measure may provide the community colleges with more autonomy, there is a greater issue of directly engaging the community colleges in administrative affairs within the University of Hawaii. The University of Hawaii community colleges serve to assist in stimulating and revitalizing Hawaii's economy through initial and future employment opportunities and continuing education. However, the lack of representation regarding the University of Hawaii management and administration frustrates the ability of community colleges in developing vital programs which would provide Hawaii residents with opportunities in education and career advancement.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting contents that addresses the concern over representation of the community colleges by:

(1) Proposing new language that requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to establish a Standing Committee on Community Colleges;

(2) Requiring the Vice President of Community Colleges to report directly to the Board of Regents Standing Committee on Community Colleges;

(3) Updating section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(4) Changing the effective date to upon its approval; and

(5) 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. 3355, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3355, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair