Report Title:
Appropriations for Hawaii Community College
Description:
Appropriates funds for Hawaii Community College.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
3178 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the university of hawaii's hawaii community college.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that investments in college and universities have a positive and long-lasting impact on the overall health of the state. The legislature further finds that the University of Hawaii (UH) system serves thousands of local residents through their community college programs, allowing graduates to remain in their communities as an active and contributing workforce. In order to meet the needs of a growing and diversified population, the community colleges have established sound academic programs and continue to advance technologically and professionally.
As the only community college serving the entire Big Island, Hawaii community college plays a crucial role in supporting local industries as well as assisting the county in attracting new ones. The college has successfully worked in partnership with government entities, private agencies, and non-profit organizations to assess the workforce training needs of businesses, and to deliver workforce training at all levels, from entry through skill-upgrade training, in support of local industries.
Currently, the Hawaii community college facilities are jointly located on two sites in the Hilo area: Manono street and Kawili street. As part of its long-range development plan, a new Hawaii community college campus will be built on one hundred and twenty acres above Komohana street in Hilo. In the interim, Hawaii community college will implement a transition plan that will require continued use of the facilities at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Manono street campuses. As part of this transition plan, it is vital that Hawaii community college immediately address the growing needs of the college to manage campus operations that are currently administered by UH-Hilo such as janitorial and maintenance functions, electricians, and campus security. Funds are needed to allow Hawaii community college to administer and manage the resources required to operate the facilities and services to better serve students, faculty, and staff.
Current staffing is available to provide basic and minimal services to students. Additional support is needed to deliver a comprehensive package of services that will facilitate the movement of students from entry level through completion. During the accreditation review process and the college’s strategic planning sessions, faculty and staff concluded that the college was lacking in transition services, recommending additional staffing to help students with job placement when they graduate and counseling support for students who plan to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program.
Hawaii community college must meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as related state laws and university policies and procedures to ensure that students with disabilities receive fair and equal opportunities to succeed. The population of students with special needs continues to grow and the requirements placed on institutions that serve these students continue to expand. The resources requested will enable the college to fairly and equitably address the considerable needs of disabled students, and match the level of support provided by other UH community college institutions.
Like other colleges and universities, Hawaii community college is committed to providing the most up-to-date and technologically advanced education and requires adequate funding to replace and update equipment originally purchased in 1983. Funding is required to transition the applied sciences program to an articulated applied science program in response to industry demands and provide for expansion of the program with transfer opportunities to institutions that grant baccalaureate of science degrees.
As the only community college serving the entire island of Hawaii, the college has the responsibility of providing education and training opportunities to all residents of the island. Big Island residents are located in pockets widely dispersed throughout the island, and Hawaii community college staff must often travel to these sites to provide instructional and related support services. Due to budget shortfalls, however, the college continues to use aging, unreliable vehicles, some over twenty years old. These vehicles, while still functioning, are becoming increasingly unsafe to operate, especially when traveling long distances.
The purpose of this Act is to provide funds for Hawaii community college's operational expenses as they grow and meet the challenges of tomorrow.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,459,973 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the following expenses relating to the University of Hawaii's Hawaii community college:
A. Funds for campus operations
1. Eleven permanent janitor II positions $270,204
2. Four permanent groundskeeper I
positions $98,256
3. Two permanent building maintenance
worker I positions $65,616
4. One permanent auxiliary and facility
services officer $47,880
5. One permanent clerk typist II $22,151
6. Postage $35,000
7. Telephone $30,000
8. Electricity $850,000
9. Water and gas $45,500
10. Sewer and refuse $45,000
11. Repair and maintenance $185,393
12. Security $105,000
13. Services $400,000
Total funding $2,200,000
B. Creation of an enrollment management system
1. One permanent faculty $43,884
2. One permanent counselor $43,884
Total funding $87,768
C. Equipment replacement
1. Educational equipment $31,313
Total funding $31,313
D. Support for students with disabilities
1. One permanent faculty $50,892
Total funding $50,892
E. Replacement motor vehicles
1. Two sedans $56,000
2. One van $34,000
Total funding $90,000
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii community college for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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