STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2348

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3229

S.D. 1

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. 3229 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the use of the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund to conduct donor evaluations; and

(2) Require the related report to the Legislature to include any donor evaluations conducted using moneys from the fund.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System and University of Hawaiʻi Foundation.

Your Committee finds that accountability is essential to fostering and maintaining trust in the fundraising efforts of the University of Hawaii. The University of Hawaii Foundation is the primary fundraising organization partnered with the University of Hawaii System. Evaluating the services of the University of Hawaii Foundation is necessary to strengthen donor relationships and improve fundraising strategies when donor constraints may limit giving ability. This measure will ensure that University of Hawaii Foundation operations are effective and donor relations are strong to support the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 3229, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3229, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair