STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2379

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2311

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2311 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPUS SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Strengthen campus safety and accountability procedures and protocols, including those relating to sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and related issues, at the University of Hawaii; and

(2) Take steps to extend those procedures and protocols to private institutions of higher education in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii system, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, IMUA Alliance, Democratic Party of Hawaii LGBT Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, AAUW of Hawaii, and a private individual.

Your Committee finds that the most recent University of Hawaii climate survey report, which polled 44,671 adult students across ten University of Hawaii campuses, revealed the necessity for a state-level solution to improving campus security. The survey found that one in eight students felt that it was likely that they would experience sexual assault or sexual harassment while on campus, while one in four felt it likely that they would be sexually assaulted or harassed at an off-campus, university-sponsored event. In addition, one in sixteen University of Hawaii survey participants systemwide reported non-consensual sexual contact at some point while enrolled at the university.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 2311, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2311, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair