STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1358

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 137

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 137 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Auditor.

Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii Foundation is a private nonprofit corporation engaging in fundraising efforts for the University of Hawaii System and the management of over seven thousand gift accounts for the University. Your Committee further finds that the efficient, effective, and transparent use of funding to provide extensive support for students and faculty through the offerings of programs that receive dedicated donor funding and improvement projects should be a priority of the University of Hawaii Foundation. Your Committee also finds that the evaluation of the use and management of these funds is crucial to identifying potential shortfalls and areas of improvement to ensure productive use of funds in support of university students and faculty. This measure requests the Office of the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation to ensure the effective use and management of the funds received by the Foundation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 137 and recommends that it 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