STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3131

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1556

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1556, H.D. 1, 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 prohibit the University of Hawaii from adopting or maintaining any policy that precludes a person from certain employment at the University if that person is a candidate for, or is elected to, a non-statewide public office.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; Hawaii Educational Policy Center; Radcliffe & Associates, LLC; and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System and Employees' Retirement System.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure allows employees of the University of Hawaii to contribute to their community by holding a public office without first sacrificing their employment at the University.  Your Committee also finds that expanding the pools of candidates for public office and for employment at the University is a benefit to the public offices, the University, and the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Authorizing the University of Hawaii to employ people who are candidates for, or are elected to, a non-statewide or non-countywide public office as casual employees, rather than prohibiting the University from adopting or maintaining any policy that precludes such employment;

 

     (2)  Inserting a definition of "casual employee"; and

 

     (3)  Inserting an amendment to chapter 88, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to clarify that people who are employed at the University of Hawaii and are also elective officers are prohibited from earning any additional benefits as a result of holding the two positions.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1556, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1556, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education and the Arts,

 

 

 

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair