STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1770

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.C.R. No. 183

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 183, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE AND ASSESS ITS ARRANGEMENT FOR SERVICES WITH THE RESEARCH CORPORATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to convene a task force to:

(1) Examine and assess its arrangement for services with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, including the terms and conditions of the service agreement between the two parties; and

(2) Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2022.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System and Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii's mission is to support and enhance research, development, and training in the State, with a focus on the University of Hawaii. Your Committee also finds that to fulfill its mission, the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii is exempt from certain state procurement and personnel laws. State law grants the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii flexibility in hiring its personnel and handling and disbursing monies.

When the University of Hawaii determines that neither it nor another state agency can more effectively or efficiently accomplish the purposes of sponsored research and training activities, the University of Hawaii contracts with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii to receive management and other services to support its research and training activities. The terms and conditions of the services provided by the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii to the University of Hawaii are set forth in a service agreement between the two parties. Your Committee finds that, as a matter of statewide concern, examining and assessing the terms and conditions of the service agreement will facilitate optimization of services provided by the Research Corporation of Hawaii to the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting that certified copies of this measure be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii and Executive Director of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 183, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 183, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair