SB14 HD1

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to establish a candidate advisory council for the board of regents of the University of Hawaii in conformity with the amendment to article X, section 6 of the Hawaii State Constitution, ratified by the voters on November 7, 2006. This Act also:

(1) Increases the membership of the board of regents of the University of Hawaii with a specified number of members representing different geographic areas;

(2) Prohibits a board of regents member from serving more than two consecutive five-year terms; and

(3) Requires the senate to consider the reconfirmation of an incumbent board member for a second term at least one hundred twenty days prior to the conclusion of the member's first term.

Additionally, the legislature renews its previously stated intent, as provided in Senate Bill No. 1256 (2005), that "the existing members of the board of regents of the University of Hawaii serve their full terms of office. As each term expires, the regent will be replaced by an appointed member screened and proposed by the candidate advisory council . . ." as provided in this Act.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304A- Candidate advisory council for the board of regents of the University of Hawaii. (a) There is established the candidate advisory council for the board of regents of the University of Hawaii to present to the governor pools of qualified candidates from which the members of the board of regents shall be nominated and, by and with the consent of the senate, appointed by the governor. The candidate advisory council shall establish the criteria for qualifying, screening, and presenting to the governor candidates for membership on the board of regents. The candidate advisory council shall be attached to the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), within sixty days of convening its first meeting, the candidate advisory council shall present no fewer than two and no more than four qualified candidates to the governor for each vacant seat on the board of regents that has arisen due to resignation, death, or removal by the governor; provided that for all subsequent presentations to the governor, the candidate advisory council shall present no fewer than two and no more than four candidates for each seat on the board of regents to the governor within:

(1) Thirty days of a vacancy that arises by resignation, death, or removal by the governor; or

(2) One hundred twenty days prior to the expiration of a term.

(c) When there are multiple seats vacant within the same county or within the at-large membership, the candidate advisory council shall present candidates for seats on the board of regents to the governor as follows:

(1) For two seats from the same county or two at-large seats, no fewer than four and no more than six candidates;

(2) For three seats from the same county, no fewer than five and no more than eight candidates; and

(3) For more than three seats, the candidate advisory council shall determine appropriate minimum numbers of candidates, which shall provide for at least three candidates for the final seat, and maximum numbers of candidates.

(d) In making its presentations, the candidate advisory council shall:

(1) Develop a statement that includes the selection criteria to be applied and a description of the responsibilities and duties of a member of the board of regents and distribute this statement to potential candidates;

(2) Screen and qualify candidates for each position on the board of regents based on their background, experience, and potential for discharging the responsibilities of a member of the board of regents;

(3) Publicly advertise pending vacancies and actively solicit and accept applications from potential candidates;

(4) Develop and implement a fair, independent, and nonpartisan procedure for selecting candidates to serve on the board of regents; and

(5) Require each candidate to disclose any existing or anticipated contracts with the University of Hawaii or any existing or anticipated financial transactions with the University of Hawaii.

Upon submission to the governor, presentations of the candidate advisory council shall be made available to the public by the University of Hawaii.

(e) For each board seat to be filled, the governor shall select one nominee from among the candidate advisory council's presentations.

(f) The candidate advisory council shall consist of seven members to be appointed without regard to section 26-34 as follows:

(1) One member shall be appointed by the president of the senate;

(2) One member shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(3) One member shall be appointed by the governor;

(4) One member shall be appointed by one of the co-chairs of the All Campus Council of Faculty Senate Chairs of the University of Hawaii;

(5) One member shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Executive Council of the University of Hawaii Student Caucus;

(6) One member shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Association of Emeritus Regents; and

(7) One member shall be appointed by the president of the University of Hawaii Alumni Association;

provided that members appointed under paragraphs (4) to (7) shall be selected from the general public and may include members of the constituencies represented; provided further that each appointee satisfies the requirements for appointment provided in this subsection, except that individuals who are or have served as members of the executive councils or boards for the organizations under paragraphs (4) and (5) within the last five years immediately preceding the establishment or a vacancy on the candidate advisory council for which the persons may be qualified to fill shall not be eligible to serve as members of the candidate advisory council.

The candidate advisory council shall be selected in a wholly nonpartisan manner. If any member has not been appointed within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this Act, the sitting members on the candidate advisory council shall make an interim appointment to fill the vacant seat. The interim appointee shall satisfy the requirements for appointment provided in this subsection and shall serve until the time when the appropriate appointing authority makes an appointment for the vacant seat as provided in this subsection. Appointees to the candidate advisory council shall have a general understanding of the purposes of higher education, the mission of the University of Hawaii system, and the responsibilities of the board of regents. Appointees shall be individuals who are widely viewed as having placed the broad public interest ahead of special interests, having achieved a high level of prominence in their respective professions, and being respected members of the community.

(g) Members of the candidate advisory council shall serve four-year terms; provided that the three members initially appointed by the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall serve for terms of two years; provided further that terms for appointments of the initial members of the candidate advisory council shall be deemed to begin on July 1, 2007, regardless of the actual date of appointment.

(h) If a vacancy occurs, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner and subject to the same qualifications as the person's predecessor. The person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term of the person's predecessor.

(i) The candidate advisory council shall operate in a wholly nonpartisan manner. No individual, while a member of the candidate advisory council, shall run for or hold any elected office under the United States or the State or any of its political subdivisions.

(j) The candidate advisory council shall convene its first meeting on or after thirty-one days from the effective date of this Act; provided that, if thirty days after the effective date of this Act, all the members to which the candidate advisory council is entitled have not yet been appointed, the candidate advisory council shall convene its first meeting upon the appointment of a majority of its members. The members of the candidate advisory council shall choose a chairperson from among themselves. A majority of all the members to which the candidate advisory council is entitled shall constitute a quorum to conduct business. The concurrence of a majority of all the members to which the candidate advisory council is entitled shall be necessary to make any action of the candidate advisory council valid. The candidate advisory council shall meet annually and at other times as necessary. The candidate advisory council shall be exempt from part I of chapter 92.

(k) Members of the candidate advisory council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel, board, and lodging expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties."

SECTION 3. Section 26-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The University of Hawaii shall be headed by an executive board to be known as the board of regents.

The board shall consist of [~~twelve~~] fifteen members. [~~No more than six of the members shall be members of the same political party and at least part of the membership of the board shall represent geographic subdivisions of the State.~~] At least one member shall be a University of Hawaii student at the time of the initial appointment. This member may be reappointed for one additional term even though the member may no longer be a student at the time of reappointment. The governor shall reduce the terms of those initially appointed to each seat on the board of regents to provide, as far as practicable, for the expiration of three terms each year; provided that the term of the student member shall not be reduced.

At least twelve members, except for the student member, shall represent the specified geographic areas as follows:

(1) Two members from the county of Hawaii;

(2) Two members from the county of Maui;

(3) One member from the county of Kauai; and

(4) Seven members from the city and county of Honolulu.

The board shall have the power, in accordance with the Constitution of the State and with law, to formulate policy[,] and to exercise control over the university through its executive officer, the president of the university. The board shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the internal organization and management of the university."

SECTION 4. Section 304A-104, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"(a) The affairs of the university shall be under the general management and control of the board of regents consisting of [~~twelve~~] fifteen members who shall be appointed and may be removed by the governor. Except as otherwise provided by law, state officers shall be eligible for appointment and membership. The term of each member shall be [~~for four years;~~] five years, except as provided for the initial appointment in section 26-11; provided that the term of the student member shall be [~~for~~] two years. [~~Except as otherwise provided by statute, state officers shall be eligible to appointment and membership.~~] Every member may serve beyond the expiration date of the member's term of appointment until the member's successor has been appointed [~~and has qualified.~~] by the governor and confirmed by the senate in accordance with article X, section 6 of the state constitution. Members shall serve no more than two consecutive five-year terms; provided that the members who are initially appointed to terms of two years or less pursuant to section 26-11(a) may be reappointed to two ensuing five-year terms. If a member is to be appointed to a second term of five years, the senate shall consider the question of whether to reconfirm the member at least one hundred twenty days prior to the conclusion of a member's first five-year term; provided that if the senate is not in session within one hundred twenty days prior to the conclusion of the member's first five-year term, the member shall continue to serve until the senate convenes for the next regular session or the next special session for which the senate is authorized to consider the question of reconfirmation.

(b) At its first meeting after June 30, the board of regents shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson, who shall serve until adjournment of its first meeting after June 30 of the next year or thereafter until their successors are appointed. The board shall appoint a secretary, who shall not be a member of the board. The president of the university shall act as executive officer of the board. From the effective date of this Act and until such time that the board of regents has at least fourteen members, seven members of the board of regents shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, and the concurrence of at least seven members of the board of regents shall be necessary to make any action of the board of regents valid; provided that upon filling at least fourteen of the fifteen board of regents seats required under subsection (a), a majority of the board of regents shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, and the concurrence of a majority of all the members to which the board of regents is entitled shall be necessary to make any action of the board of regents valid. The board shall meet [~~not less often than~~] at least ten times annually and, from time to time, may meet in each of the counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai."

SECTION 5. Notwithstanding the requirements of section 304A-104, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as it read prior to the effective date of this Act, the terms of those members of the board of regents of the University of Hawaii that are to expire on or before June 30, 2007, shall be extended until the earlier of June 30, 2008, or until such time as new members of the board of regents have been appointed pursuant to the appointment process established pursuant to this Act, at which time their terms shall expire; provided that the current members shall serve their full terms.

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	14
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1