STAND. COM. REP. NO. 153
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 960
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 S.B. No. 960 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BOARD OF REGENTS CANDIDATE ADVISORY COUNCIL,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal the University of Hawaii Board of Regents Candidate Advisory Council and authorize the Governor to directly appoint members to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.
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 three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i System.
Your Committee finds that the
Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii guides the policies and trajectory
of the University of Hawaii. In 2006,
the Board of Regents Candidate Advisory Council was established to select
regents through a process similar to the state Judiciary's process for
selecting judges and justices. While the
Candidate Advisory Council proved effective at its inception and during periods
when a high number of individuals applied, it has proven less effective in
recent years when insufficient numbers of applicants have forced the Council to
extend application deadlines.
For each
vacancy on the Board of Regents, the Candidate Advisory Council is required to
submit the names of at least three candidates to the Governor. A lack of applicants may leave the Council no
choice but to submit the names of less qualified or unqualified applicants to
meet its mandate. To maintain the
quality of regents, this measure repeals the Board of Regents Candidate
Advisory Council, allowing the Governor to directly appoint regents with the
advice and consent of the Senate.
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. 960 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,
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________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair |
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