STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 309
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 443
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 443 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce.
Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii at Hilo is experiencing a declining enrollment rate. University of Hawaii at Hilo officials have cited the school's limited brand exposure outside of Hawaii, difficultly retaining students from the mainland, and an increase in online educational opportunities as factors contributing to the school's enrollment issues. Your Committee further finds that funding for positions and initiatives directly related to addressing student enrollment are vital to ensuring that the school has the necessary staff and resources to retain students and increase enrollment.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts; and
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating $507,500 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $790,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the University of Hawaii at Hilo, as follows:
(1) $37,500 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $75,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for a retention coordinator;
(2) $37,500 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $75,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for an internship coordinator; and
(3) $432,500 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $640,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for student enrollment management initiatives.
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 H.B. No. 443, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 443, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,
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____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair |