STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3246

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2500

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2500, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CONFERENCE CENTER REVOLVING FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the University of Hawaii Conference Center Revolving Fund and authorize the University of Hawaii to establish accounts under the fund to facilitate the administration of the revolving fund for conference center programs among various campuses and operating units of the University of Hawaii System;

(2) Repeal the Conference Center Revolving Fund for the University of Hawaii at Hilo; and

(3) Lapse funds to the University of Hawaii Conference Center Revolving Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that, presently, the University of Hawaii administers for Conference Center Revolving Funds for the University of Hawaii community colleges and the University of Hawaii at Hilo. However, existing funds have substantially similar processes, creating duplicative procedures that could benefit from a centralized fiscal process. Therefore, this measure standardizes fiscal management of conference center programs while eliminating duplication of statutes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language specifying that this measure is a matter of statewide concern;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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. 2500, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2500, H.D. 1, 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,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair