Report Title:

UH; Peace Education; Additional Positions

 

Description:

Requires the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace the University of Hawaii to hire a director; administrative, professional, and technical staff; and an assistant professor.  Appropriates fund for research, operations, and activities of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace.  (SD1)

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2902

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOR PEACE EDUCATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that during these politically tumultuous times, it is of great import to develop and support programs that are dedicated to the studies of peace and conflict resolution.  Escalating violence, not only evident among nations and peoples, as in the war in Iraq, but also within our own island community signifies a troubled future if efforts are not made to promote peace throughout all aspects of our everyday lives.

     The legislature further finds that in 1985, the University of Hawaii established the Institute of Peace, now the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace, in the hope that, in Senator Matsunaga's words, "every student enrolled in Hawaii's public university system will be exposed to peace studies."  Accordingly, the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace is a multi-disciplinary academic community of scholars, students, practitioners, and visitors who, through teaching, research, service, and application, seek to:

     (1)  Educate and train professionals and future leaders in applied peacemaking and conflict resolution;

     (2)  Develop and apply innovations to the peaceful resolution of conflicts--locally, regionally, nationally, and globally;

     (3)  Address contemporary problems within Hawaii, the Asia-Pacific region, the continental United States and the world; and

     (4)  Use its strategic Pacific location to bring people together and renew the University's responsibility to provide a safe sanctuary for a civil and respectful exchange of perspectives and ideas.

     The legislature further finds that efforts to combat the escalating violence in our communities and schools has been recently addressed by this legislature in 2007, pursuant to house concurrent resolution number 55, which requested the department of education to conduct a study on the feasibility of integrating peace education into the public school curriculum and report back to the legislature with its findings on the issue. 

     The legislature continues in its dedication to promoting peace and peace education in Hawaii through supporting peace education programs.  The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the hiring of necessary staff and research, operations, and activities at the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace.

     SECTION 2.  The Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace at the University of Hawaii shall include the following additional permanent positions to support its operations:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) director position at the associate professor level;

     (2)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative, professional, and technical position for administrative and fiscal work; and

     (3)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) assistant professor position.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $10,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for research, operations, and activities of the Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace; provided that the funds shall be allocated for:

     (1)  The Hawaii case studies in peacemaking research project; and

     (2)  The planning and conducting of an international conference on peacemaking and conflict resolution in the Asia Pacific region.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.