STAND. COM. REP. NO.917

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 576

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 576 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prevent the University of Hawaii Board of Regents from making expenditures from the University of Hawaii tuition and special fees fund to generate private donations to the University of Hawaii Foundation.

Your Committee believes that it is necessary to ensure that the State's higher education policy maintains a balance between providing increasing fiscal autonomy to the University of Hawaii and accountability to the public. While your Committee recognizes the importance of the University of Hawaii seeking private contributions, if public funds are used, the public has the right to know whether the University of Hawaii's investment of public funds is fiscally sound. Your Committee notes that the University of Hawaii Foundation, a private nonprofit organization, has not been the most cooperative organization when questions about its finances have been raised, even though it is a recipient of public funds. Your committee is recommending passage of this bill to promote discussions on this issue.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 576 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair