STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2067-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 132

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 132 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO REPORT ON THE PAMANTASAN COUNCIL'S SYSTEMWIDE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE STATUS OF FILIPINOS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to report on the Pamantasan Council's systemwide efforts to improve the status of Filipinos at the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Samahang Filipino Club at Hawai‘i Community College in Hilo, Hawai‘i Friends of Civil Rights, Tinalak Filipino Education Council, and thirteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that although Filipino student representation and academic performance have increased at all University of Hawaii campuses, Filipino students continue to be underrepresented at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and Filipino faculty are underrepresented at all University of Hawaii campuses. Your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii Pamantasan Council, established in 1987, has been working diligently to increase representation of Filipino students, faculty, staff, and curriculum at the University of Hawaii. Although funds were appropriated to the Pamantasan Council by Act 266, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting budget cuts, the monies were not used as intended. This measure seeks a report from the University of Hawaii on the Pamantasan Council's efforts to improve the status of Filipinos at the University of Hawaii, including resource and budgetary needs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 132 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair