STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3558

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2772

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2772, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to, among other things:

 

     (1)  Train all employees and students on sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking laws and policies; provided that any student who does not complete training is prohibited from registering for classes the next semester and from graduating;

 

     (2)  Designate a confidential advocate for students at each of its campuses and provide certain contact information for confidential advocates on the website of each respective campus;

 

     (3)  Make available to students and employees written and electronic materials and training programs concerning Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972; the Violence Against Women Act of 1994; and University of Hawaii policies concerning sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking;

 

     (4)  Inform victims in writing of the right to report all sexual-assault cases to the county police department for investigation and assist victims in submitting the police report;

 

     (5)  Require designated "responsible employees" to report any violations of University of Hawaii executive policies regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking to the Title IX Coordinator;

 

     (6)  Require the confidential advocate to annually provide general statistics to the Title IX Coordinator on the number and type of incidents received by the confidential advocate; and

 

     (7)  Conduct a campus climate survey of all students every two years, beginning no later than December 31, 2016.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

 

     Your Committees find that the affirmative consent task force, established by Act 222, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, reviewed and made recommendations regarding the University of Hawaii executive policies on sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.  Implementation of this measure will improve accountability and promote a safe environment free from sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking at the University of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting language prohibiting any student who does not complete training from registering for classes the next semester and from graduating;

 

     (2)  Appropriating a blank amount to the University of Hawaii; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2772, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2772, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair