STAND. COM. REP. NO. 358-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1615

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 H.B. No. 1615 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPUS SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require all existing University of Hawaii employees to be provided training on federal laws and University policies regarding sex discrimination and sexual misconduct by December 31, 2024; and

(2) Appropriate funds out of the general revenues of the State, rather than the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund, for fiscal year 2024-2025 for operating expenses and to establish positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Imua Alliance; Every Voice Hawaiʻi; AAUW of Hawaii; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, thirteen percent of all college students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. Your Committee further finds that among undergraduate students, 26.4 percent of females and 6.8 percent of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. This measure will help to provide a safer learning environment at all University of Hawaii campuses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that campus safety at the University of Hawaii is a matter of statewide concern;

(2) Clarifying that the amnesty provisions of section 304A-120, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are applicable only to students and the student conduct code;

(3) Adding a definition for "student reporting party";

(4) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000.

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. 1615, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1615, 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