STAND. COM. REP. NO. 298

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1188

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1188 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEMPORARY FACILITIES FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII-WEST OAHU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for capital improvement projects for the design and construction of temporary facilities at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu (UH).

In March 2003, a re-accreditation team of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges visited the UH-West Oahu campus and a Formal Notice of Concern was issued to the UH with a finding that the academic infrastructure was insufficient.

This measure is intended to rectify the plant deficiencies problem of the UH. Your Committee finds that the two new portable buildings will not be covered by the allotted funds and additional moneys are needed to cover the increased costs of the materials and to address health and safety issues. The two portable buildings are urgently needed for current staff as well as anticipated new staff. At this time, storage areas have been converted to office space and staff members are doubled up in cramped spaces. These temporary facilities are necessary because no construction of permanent buildings for the new campus are expected to be completed prior to 2008. Faculty and staff at West Oahu need to use these temporary facilities now and for the immediate future.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2020 to continue discussions on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1188, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1188, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair