STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1795

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1320

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a database on graduate outcomes in higher education.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes;

(2) Requires, and appropriates moneys for, the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard; and

(3) Appropriates moneys for the establishment of positions in the University of Hawaii System's Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

Your Committee finds that publicly reporting data on educational institutions' post-graduation employment rates, median incomes, and other metrics will enable students and their families to make informed decisions about student career paths and which educational institution a student will attend. Your Committee additionally finds that tracking and reporting this data will also help ensure institutional accountability and align higher education programs with the State's workforce development needs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair