STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1457

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 457

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 457, 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 appropriate moneys to the University of Hawaii to ensure compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 to address sexual violence on campus.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, and University of Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women. 

 

     Your Committee finds that sexual violence is prevalent on American college campuses, and it is evident that Hawaii's college students are also affected by this problem.  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the administration of any education program receiving federal financial assistance.  The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 is targeted at ending violence against women and girls and remedying laws and social practices that, in the past, have fostered and justified violence against women and girls.  Your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii requires additional staff and materials to ensure compliance with these federal mandates to effectively address campus sexual violence.   

 

     Your Committee believes that a report to the Legislature on the use of the appropriations made by this measure and the status of compliance with federal law would provide valuable information to help the Legislature ensure that the University is effectively addressing campus sexual violence.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the University of Hawaii to submit a report to the Legislature, prior to the Regular Sessions of 2016 and 2017, on the use of the appropriation and the status of compliance with Title IX and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 457, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 457, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair