STAND. COM. REP. NO. 622-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 1511

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1511, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RESEARCH CORPORATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the purpose of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii is to promote educational, scientific, and literary pursuits through research, training of research personnel, and dissemination of knowledge by publication of research findings and that the Corporation's undertakings shall be limited to acts that are reasonably necessary to carry out this purpose.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that this measure is necessary to ensure that the undertakings of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii meet the purposes for which it was originally established.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the University of Hawaii to consult with, instead of notify, the exclusive representative of the appropriate bargaining unit to review conformance of positions with exceptions to collective bargaining;

(2) If any civil service employees or programs actively employ civil service employees, requiring the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii to provide justification to the Governor for each civil service position accepted, list the program affected in its next report to the Legislature, and obtain approval from the Governor prior to hiring; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 1511, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1511, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair