STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1232

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 848

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 848, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII INSTITUTE FOR MARINE BIOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of three permanent full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) support staff positions for the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve, Pacific American Foundation, Kāne‘ohe Bay Regional Council, Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology performs cutting-edge oceans and coastal research and provides internationally recognized training for students in conservation-oriented and place-based scientific research. The Institute is also developing vocational and technical training opportunities, such as paid experiential learning internship programs for students of local community colleges. As the Institute grows its programs, the Institute's need for permanent support staff consequently also increases. This measure therefore supports the programmatic expansion of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology by appropriating funds for the establishment of additional permanent support staff positions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language authorizing the Governor to correct any manifest clerical, typographical, or other mechanical errors that may be found in this measure; and

(2) 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 H.B. No. 848, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 848, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair