STAND. COM. REP. NO.  536

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 554

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 554, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPUS SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require that the University of Hawaii ensure that any individual who participates in implementing the University's disciplinary process has training or experience in handling sexual misconduct complaints and the University's disciplinary process;

 

     (2)  Require that the University of Hawaii provide mandatory annual trauma-informed, gender-inclusive, LGBTQ+‑inclusive sexual misconduct primary prevention and awareness programming for students and employees of the University;

 

     (3)  Prohibit the University of Hawaii from taking disciplinary action against individuals reporting sexual misconduct unless certain exceptions apply; and

 

     (4)  Establish positions and appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from University of Hawaii System, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Imua Alliance, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Every Voice Coalition Hawaii, and eleven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that college campuses generally have an elevated prevalence of sexual and domestic violence and that strengthening campus safety protocols will ensure that students are adequately protected from escalating incidents of abuse.  This measure expands protections for victims of sexual misconduct at the University of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Using the defined term "sexual misconduct" more consistently when referring to sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking;

 

     (2)  Amending the definition of "sexual misconduct" to include dating violence; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000 for four full-time equivalent positions to enable the University of Hawaii to fulfill the requirements of this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 554, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 554, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair