STAND. COM. REP. NO.1212

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 159

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 159, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Hawaiian Language College (College) of the University of Hawaii at Hilo to contract directly with providers when conducting business in the Hawaiian language, rather than having to conduct such business through the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Aha Punana Leo, and a private citizen submitted testimony in support of the measure. The University of Hawaii at Hilo stated that although it is supportive of the College, it could not support the measure since it believed that such a directive would be more appropriately handled internally.

Your Committees have amended the measure by deleting its substance and inserting therefor, provisions that repeal the prohibition against appropriating general funds for the operation of the College.

Your Committees find that the College was established at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in 1997 to serve as a focal point for the revitalization of the Hawaiian language in accordance with state constitutional requirements that the study of Hawaiian language be promoted. Since then, the commitment of the faculty and the progress made by the College have demonstrated its viability and value within the UH system in addition to its special relevance to the community as required by law.

Your Committees also find that the College has been constrained in its development by a unique prohibition from receiving general funds for its operations. This prohibition impacts negatively on the ability of the College to grow and also on its ability to bring in additional federal and private funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The College has proven that it can be a relevant part of UH and that it can make meaningful contributions to the community.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 159, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 159, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Education,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________

JONATHAN CHUN, Chair