STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 231

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 231 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 6, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO MODIFY THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to propose an amendment to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution to modify the appointment process for the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii by repealing the requirement that the Governor only appoint from pools of candidates presented by the Candidate Advisory Council.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Association of Emeritus Regents of the University of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committee finds that modifying the appointment process will provide the Governor greater flexibility in selecting members of the Board of Regents, while providing a more direct line of accountability. Your Committee notes that as a constitutional amendment, this change in the appointment process will ultimately be left up to the voters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 231, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 231, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair