STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2334

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2659

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2659 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit active employees of the University of Hawaii or the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii from serving on the Board of Regents.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the impartiality of the Board of Regents is integral to maintaining public trust in the Board's decisions, which must be in the best interest of the University of Hawaii System. Appointing a university employee to the Board may jeopardize this impartiality by creating a conflict of interest and ethical concerns due to the personal or departmental interests of the employee. This measure would safeguard the Board of Regents' objective decision making capabilities and public trust in the University of Hawaii's leadership.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2659 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair