House Standing Committee on Higher Education

Good afternoon, everyone. We're now convening the House Committee on Higher Education. It is Wednesday, February 4th, 2:01 PM, here in Conference Room 309. Before we begin the agenda, I just wanted to make a couple of announcements.

So, just in terms of protocol for the Committee, we're going to follow what seemed to work well last year in terms of our public notice requirements for this particular committee's agendas. House rules required notices to be posted 48 hours in advance. Our intention is to post them at least 72 hours.

So, that means for a Wednesday hearing like today, we're going to put out the hearing notice on Friday, the week before. For a Friday notice, it will go out on Tuesday, which we abided for the Feb. 6th hearing. House rules dictate that public testimony has to be posted no later than two hours before the hearing.

We will post them 22 hours before, as much as possible, so the public and the members will receive the testimony at the same time. They will be updated with late testimony as it comes in after the 24-hour requirement.

For the Committee, anytime I have a suggested HD 1 to propose, rather than just explain to you folks what I'm thinking of doing, if it's a pretty complicated HD 1, I will defer that Bill to the next scheduled hearing so I can circulate a written copy of the proposed HD one in advance, so you're not voting blind on anything.

In terms of this room, we do have a new AV system. You'll see the ceilings are in the microphone. Green means that it's on. It is pretty sensitive, so for the members in the public, it can pick up side conversations, so please be mindful of that.

We don't have a microphone at the podium there, but I've heard that this doesn't quite reach as well there. So, if you could just speak clearly, please, so people that are following on YouTube or Zoom can hear you. So, with that, shall we get started?

Sounds great. Thank you, Chair.

Okay, thank you. First Bill up today, House Bill 1596, relating to student basic needs support at the University of Hawaii. Up first, we have the University of Hawaii testifying in support via Zoom.

Chair, sorry. Vice President Halpert is actually minutes away. I believe that...

I'm sorry, could you come up here just so we can hear you on the speaker, please?

Stephanie Kim with the University of Hawaii. We stand on our written testimony, and I just want to mention Vice President Halbert is minutes away. She actually just called me, but Associate Vice President Farrah Marie Gomes should be on Zoom so she could answer any questions.

Thank You, Stephanie. Farah, is there anything you wanted to add or do you want to stand on the testimony?

No, we stand on our written testimony and are happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you.

We also have—well, UH is the only group that is scheduled to testify either in person or via zoom. We do have supportive testimony from the Oahu Youth Action Board and one individual. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify on House Bill 1596? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Good. Okay. Thank you, Farrah.

Moving on to the next Bill, House Bill 1597, relating to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias research. Up first, we have the Attorney General offering comments.

Good afternoon, Vice Chair and Vice Chair, members of the—member of the Committee. Candace Park, Attorney General's office. We just want to remind us maybe that the imposition upon UH requires that the lobby matter of statewide concern. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Up next, we have SHPDA, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, testifying in support. Are they here in person? Are they on via Zoom? No? Okay. The University of Hawaii, Dr. Masaki, via Zoom.

Good afternoon, Chair. Good afternoon, Chair Garrett, Vice Chair Amato, and Members of the Committee. I'm testifying—I'm Dr. Masaki—I'm testifying on behalf of Jabsum, and we stand on the testimony that we submitted. I'm very happy to answer any questions you may have.

Okay, thank you very much, Dr. Masaki. Up next, we have the Alzheimer's Association of Hawaii testifying in support via zoom. Not here.

Not present. Okay, again, testifying in support. Do we have Chris Lutz with the Alzheimer's Association? Not present as well. Okay, neither is present. Both testifying in support. And let's see. Do we have anyone else via Zoom? Okay, we do have three other people, individuals testifying in support. If they are on, they can identify themselves later.

So, with that, members, we do have testimony from a slew of other organizations. Testimony in support from AARP, the Hawaii Parkinson Association, comments from the Queen's Health System, and support from roughly a dozen individuals. Okay, is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify? House Bill 1597. Seeing none. Members, any questions? Seeing none.

We'll continue on to the third bill on the agenda, House Bill 1970, relating to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Up first is the University of Hawaii with comments.

Thank you, Chair Garrett and Vice Chair Amato, Members of the Committee. I'm Brenda Hernandez on behalf of the UH Cancer Center. And also, available by zoom. Unfortunately, our Director could not be here because of medical reasons. But he is available to answer questions along with myself, Dr. Ueno, and we stand on our written testimony.

Thank you very much. Okay, up next, American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, in support.

Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee Member. Aloha. My name is Cynthia Au, on behalf of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, or ACSCAN. I'm offering strong support for our House Bill 1970, provides critical funding for the Hawaii Tumor Registry, the backbone of cancer surveillance in our islands.

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Hawaii with more than 9,400 new cases that will be diagnosed this year and 2,700 deaths each year, this year. To effectively prevent cancer detected early and improve outcomes, we rely on high quality data.

The Tumor Registry provides information that allows clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to monitor trends, guide prevention strategies, and investigate potential clusters and respond quickly to these issues that emerge. These data also helps Hawaii secure federal funding, including support from the National Cancer Institute.

Because Hawaii is so diverse, it becomes even more essential for us to know what's happening in our communities and what kind of cancers are coming out. I respectfully urge the Committee to pass 1970. Thank you.

Okay, thank you, Cynthia. Up next via Zoom is the Hawaii Medical Association, Dr. Ignacio.

Aloha, Chair, Members of the Committee. Dr. Elizabeth Ann Ignacio-Malley, speaking for Hawaii Medical Association. We stand in strong support of this measure for UH Cancer Center and we're available for questions. Thank you, Chair.

Okay, thank you very much. Members, please note that we have testimony also in support from the American Cancer Society, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and several individuals. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify on House Bill 1970? Seeing none. Members, any questions?

We'll continue on to the next bill, House Bill 1598 relating to the Hawaii Class Institute. First, is the Attorney General providing comments.

Same same issue with this bill regarding recognizing it as a law of statewide concern.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Up next, the Department of Taxation, the.

Tax Party will stand more commons.

Okay, thank you very much. DOTAX with comments. Up next, the University of Hawaii Dean Fletcher testifying in support.

Correct. Thank you. Chair Garrett and Vice Chair Amato. It turns out from recent data this morning that last year 2025 was the third hottest year on record for the state of Hawaii and the sixth driest year in 102 years of record keeping. We're facing mounting drought, heat, sea level rise, extreme weather events.

And yet the state of Hawaii faces this uncertain future. Without an agency focused on climate science. The University is ready to respond to this Need. And we are proposing the creation of a Hawaiian Climate Institute.

We're asking for core support for employment of climate modelers as well as eight faculty positions which would be spread between the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, the School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Hawaii, Nuiakea, CTAHR Public Health and JAFSA Medical School. And together we would, with this new faculty contingent, create new curriculum.

We would train University of Hawaii students in climate ready knowledge to assist the state in this dangerous and uncertain future. I stand ready to take any questions you may have. Thank you very much for this opportunity. Thank you, Dean.

Thank you, Dean. Let's see. Is Michael Caine present. Providing testimony and support? Members, please note that we also have testimony and support from the Surfrider Foundation, a few individuals, comments from the Care for INA Coalition and opposition from a couple of individuals as well. We just called on DLNR on this bill. Did you folks want to testify?

Thank you. I'm okay with DLNR. We stand on our testimony and support. We rely on this data in developing. Our programs and we do feel it's. Important to just have local control given the unreliability of the the federal system.

Apologies for being late. No, no, that's perfectly fine. Okay, thank you very much. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify? Members, any questions? House Bill 1598.

Good question.

Yes, Vice Chair.

Question for the Dean, please. Vice Chair, thank you for being here to testify. I appreciate it. Do you have a plan in place to help offset the cost by utilizing federal dollars or anything? And is there concern with what's happening at the federal level with our environmental agencies that they simply just won't help support it?

What's your plan to help fund this? Because we know the state is tight on money right now.

Understood. We are asking for funding from the state to launch this institute. And we do seek perpetual funding, perhaps a slice of the green fee to fund the graduate students, undergrads and the scientists that will support the faculty. Now, faculty's job in our school is to write proposals and seek federal funding.

And we're very, very good at it. This past year we brought in $150 million in federal funding despite having $28 million cut because because of DOGE and other federal restrictions. We are of course hopeful that we're going to see a change perhaps this November, three years from now.

I can also say that the Congress has put together a funding package for the federal science agencies that holds level past year's funding. We'll see how that plays out. But the long term plan is for the faculty to be writing proposals.

And because of that, they will be guiding research that is done by graduate students and other employees. And that's where the funding that we seek from the Green Fee would Fund these graduate students.

It would fund startup packages for the faculty to get them rolling, launch them on their careers, as well as the analysts, the meteorologists, and the other scientists that produce the databases that Hawaii programs and policies rely on, as well as new programs and policies that we'll need to put in place given the coming future of more intense climate change.

Thank you. I appreciate that. I worry a little bit that the Green Fee is kind of looked at like this great pool of money that everyone can just grab from there. I don't know how much there's actually really going to be at the end of the day. So I worry that we rely too heavy on that.

So I'm glad to hear that you have a plan for further sustaining the program. Absolutely. Yep. Thank you, sir.

Okay, Dean, if you could just stay there, please. Sure.

Sorry. Members, any other questions? Okay.

Dean, you mentioned that the impact of Doge and other federal cuts is at 28 million. Is that the totality of, like, research grant cuts through noaa, other agencies as well?

That's the totality for my school. For the university, I believe it's closer to 70 or $80 million that we've lost through federal cuts. Yes.

Okay, so you'd lost specifically for SOAS about 28 million? That's correct. What has been the impact of that? Have you had to lay off staff or grad assistants?

Luckily, because our faculty are so good at getting multiple grants and can keeping multiple laboratories funded, we've been able for the most part, to not lose any students. We may have lost one or two researchers, but we've also been able to reprogram researchers onto other existing grants that we have.

I will say we're in better shape today than I thought we would be last March. I don't know what the next three years is going to look like, though. It gets increasingly difficult. Okay, thank you, Dean. Yep.

One more real quick question. Sorry about that. I just want to know, are you going to be asking that these faculty positions be made permanent?

Exactly. Yes. Thank you. We are asking that they be made permanent. And we have permission to testify in support from our provost and from our President.

Okay, thank you, Chair. Okay, thank you.

Moving on to the next next bill, House Bill 1989 relating to water retention. Up first, we have university fight Dean Fletcher providing comments. Dean, did you want to testify the next bill?

Oh, Sorry.

So providing comments. House Bill 1989 yes, we'll stand on our testimony.

This bill seeks to recognize that when it rains and fresh water runs off into the ocean, we're losing a precious resource that we can no longer afford to lose.

This bill would call for a study of open lands that have a clear association with our aquifers and known recharge areas to slow those waters, retain them and enhance recharge. I think this is something that is going to be critically important as we see reductions in rainfall and more and more demand on our water resources.

Thank you very much.

Next. Actually, Dean is the only person who signed up to testify in person. Members, please note we have testimony and support from two individuals as well. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to Testify? At hospital 1989 seeing none. Members, any questions? Seeing then moving on to the next bill. House Bill 1951 related to biosecurity.

Up first, the University of Hawaii Dean Grewal providing comments.

Mahalo Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the Committee for allowing us this opportunity to testify. We stand on our testimony and we want to elaborate just a little bit is that the invasive species are not just only a threat, but they are devastating already our agriculture, urban landscapes and natural resources.

And we need to develop solutions much faster than we have been. And that is the reason we need capacity. The capacity is in the form of biocontainment so that we can develop biocontrol agents and other research that is necessary. And we also know that we don't have enough money in the state right now.

So we have proposed in our testimony that we do a four step proposal for this. And we will try funding from the federal sources, but often they require some matching funds. So if you get us started we can then get to. We are stronger to get those kinds of money and I'm here to answer any questions.

Okay, thank you, Dean. Up next, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity providing comments. Are they in the room? Seeing nobody from Deb. Up next, Department of Land and Natural Resources testifying in support.

Aloha Chair McGarrett, Vice Chair Amato and Members of the Higher Education Committee. I'm Patrick Chi. I'm the Invasive Species Coordinator for the state as well as the Hawai'i Invasive Species Council. The Department stands in strong support of this bill. We believe that the invasive species threats continue to grow.

And even though we are doing what we can with the resources that we have further resources in research and finding new tools in order for us to address the invasive species threats is Important and we support increasing the ability to do so at the University of Hawaii. I'm available for questions if you have any. Thank you, Patrick.

Hawaii Farm Bureau submitting testimony in support. I believe Brian is in a different hearing at the moment via Zoom. Ashton Carlino, is she available?

Good afternoon, Chair and Members of the Committee. I am Ashlyn Carlino and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Hawaii Manoa and I am supportive. HB 1951. Hawaii has fallen victim to numerous invasive species earning the beautiful islands and name as the endangered species capital of the world.

And with the intense habitat destruction, forest degradation, biodiversity loss and even a disease called rapid hia death or rod, I believe it is incredibly important to provide the University of Hawaii the proper funds to establish a center on biosecurity research in order to alive. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Ashlyn. Members to we have testimony and support from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, the Nature Conservancy, hfna East County, East Oahu County Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Crop Improvement association and several individuals. Mr. Miyamoto, would you like to come testify on House Bill 1951? Catch your breath first.

Good afternoon, Chair. Vice chair. Members of the Committee Committee, Brian Miyamoto here on behalf of the Hawaii Farm Bureau. You know, it's a lot of steps from second floor to the third floor. Some of us struggle. You have a written testimony from. Sorry for the delays. Chair, you have a written testimony support.

We can't speak highly enough about our College of Tropical Agriculture human resilience. Thank you for the support. Over the years, the Legislature has funded a lot of money towards very important. Biosecurity is a threat. We're in a crisis. But most of the money has gone to the Department of Agriculture.

This looks at other mechanism for biosecurity and I believe you probably covered it before, but really we need to address this issue. Need to look at the research, the education, the extension, the outreach, other portions that are really going to help us in this core with fossil security.

So again, I don't want to probably repeat what was said. We're in strong support. We know it's a lot of money, but if I may remind the Legislature, I believe in 2004 an LRB study suggested it may take upwards of $100 million a year to address the biosecurity threat.

Legislature has funded quite a bit millions in the past several years. This is going to another part, a very important part. Trying to find some bottle controls and other things that re really will go to the core of addressing invasive species. So thank you for the opportunity to testify.

I apologize for tardiness and we are in strong support of the college and of combating biosecurity, our invasive species. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Brian. We'll extend the same courtesy to the Department of Agriculture. Biosecurity. Mr. Gates providing comments? Yes. How come you're not like panting?

I was doing cardio at the Hawaii Farm Bureau as well. Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the. Committee, Cedric Gates here on behalf of DAB. The Department stands in strong support of the intent of this measure and offers comments. And here for any questions. Thank you very much. Okay.

Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify in House Bill 1951 seeing none. Members questions? CTAHR, please. So not trying to get too far ahead of ourselves here, but have you identified a potential site for this center?

There are two possibilities. One, we considered web narrow, but Whitmore can be a site because some possibility of getting some ADC land there. We are open to other possibilities at this point. We are aggressively looking at it. We have done rest of the work in terms of what the facility should look like.

We had a grant from the Department of Defense. The university system had a grant and through that those consultants we have actually we have ready with that cost have to be quite close to accurate.

Is this something that from your in your opinion should be located on Oahu or is there a possibility for it to be located on one of the neighboring islands?

It could be located anywhere because it's going to be the statewide facility. And we are also very open to collaboration with Senua, USDAPark or other scientists. The only reason we are currently inclined are the Oahu because our current faculty are located in Manoa and there are one or two faculty at other places too.

But the majority of the biocontrol faculty are here right now.

Understanding. Okay, thank you. Thank you.

Yes, just a quick follow up question on that. If all of the faculty are mainly located here on Oahu, if you were potentially looking and I'm. I think part of my question is are you going to look at other CTAHR facilities and locations, especially facilities that are either aging or have a lot of unused land.

Say there's only one acre that's being utilized for a current facility, whereas the property itself is over 10 acres. So there's 9 or so acres that are unused. And are those being looked at as potential locations for this facility?

And would you then move the faculty that are at Manoa to potentially a location that might house this new facility?

Right. So on Oahu, as I said, Waimanaru is a possibility and from zero may be a possibility as well there the faculty can drive because they have, you know, anchored in according to Manoa situation right now. So they, you know, we can drag them. Their offices would be located with this facility. Then that can work.

But if we ask them to move to another island, just these faculty, that would be hard. But we are requesting few extension positions in this in the areas where we have no expertise right now. Those would be located anywhere in on any of the islands because they will work mostly to the field work.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. Chair Members, any other questions? Elseville 1951 seeing none. We'll move to 1952. Dean, can you come back up please? I think you're up first. This is a bill relating to agriculture geo bonds for C station on Kauai. Dean Grewal providing comments.

Again. Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. This bill requests money, a CIP request for renovations and improvement of our Kauai station in Kauai. We currently have only one active station and that station has very old buildings and several of them do not comply with even ADA requirements.

We are basically benefiting the state if we can help with this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dean. Up next, Hawaii Farm Bureau in support.

Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Brian Miyamoto here on behalf of the Hawaii Farm Bureau. You have our written testimony support. Just like to add a few comments. Again, this demonstrates the importance of our extension stations and the extension work that land grant does.

This is in line with some previous support from the legislation of past several years and speaks to what Rep. Kapela said at the last bill about our aging facilities. So two years ago the Legislature funded our Pomoho station. Last year Waimanalo, and this year we're asking for Kauai.

This is a Farm Bureau priority and the reason why a lot of these stations were built around the same time and they're all aged and they're all going to need some type of attention.

As you heard the Dean, some of the compliance issues and some of the innovation that we're looking for, agriculture so we can move agriculture into the 21st century and have it as a viable industry and build agriculture up. So again, we appreciate the Legislature considering this very important station, especially because of the last two were on Oahu.

This is on our neighbor islands and we'd like to get all our stations according to what the college and the dean is prioritizing. But this is the station's $5 million is the ask that's going to go along with to help support agriculture growth here in Hawaii. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you, Mr. Miyamoto. That is all that we have scheduled to testify in person. Anyone in the room wish to testify, please come up and identify yourself and any organizational affiliation.

Good afternoon. For the record, my name is Durazo Homa, Executive Director for APEC Hawaii. The author of the book called A Blueprint. And being a US senior official here, I just wanted to support the measure what universal Hawaii is doing with generating revenue for the government obligation. But I just have a reservation.

As you know, the Trump Administration had an Executive order of issuing $12 billion to aid the farmers, American farmers, and those are probably most likely going to go to the red states. But we want to tap into that $12 billion agriculture. You know, Hawaii has an agriculture industry.

You know, the reason that so much of our supply food chain supplies at the grocery store. American farmers are only yielding 40% of their farm products. You know, we should be yielding 80% because they don't have poor conditions. No agricultural fertilizer, no new equipment. But we should be blooming the high technology of agriculture.

So my concern, we should consider youth, have our congressional delegation. You guys gotta make notable noise and try to tap into that $12 billion of agriculture funds that can be distributed and I'm sure 5 million for that geo bonds for uh, is nothing, you know, we should get millions of dollars here hopefully.

So you know, tell our congressional delegations that we want to tap into that $12 billion of agricultural monies. Thank you very much.

At the podium there should be like a blank sheet for people who haven't signed up to testify. If you just write your name in your organization for the record. Thank you. On House Bill 1952 Members, please note we have testimony and support from several organizations.

Purple Maya, Hawaii Food plus Policy, the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, East Oahu County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Kalepa Coalition Ag Co Op and several individuals. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members, any questions? House Bill 1952. Yes, Rep. Capella.

I think Dean, if. You can come up. Thank you. I guess kind of following along the same line of questioning. I'm still thinking about the Honolulu station on Hapai Island. I recognize that you've done this is brought forward by Farm Bureau in conjunction with ctahr and you have done different islands, different facilities over the course of time.

When is Hawaii island going to get its support that it needs so on Hawaii Island.

Actually we have at least three projects going on right now. You funded a project in Waikkea which is a 5.6 million dollar ask. It was. And that project construction just started and University made investment in the Myani livestock station. And University also made investments in Kahana. We have just made some renovations there.

But the way I have facilities on all islands that need help, there is no question. And faculty are asking say tissue culture lab. I need this, I need that and it makes sense. So we are going piece by piece. Last year by Manaro took first spot.

This year we hope that Kauai would win and and moving forward we would go to Maui. We also need to go to Big island again because there are facilities there, a number of stations that Kona. We also invested some dollars, we made some improvements, but we need more. Some stations, we haven't even touched them yet.

Okay.

Yeah, they are in our plan.

Okay, I'm glad to know they're in the plan. Thank you. Thank you.

Yes, Dean, Is this currently in your CIP request for.

Yeah. UH has this request included in the.

Budget and that was approved by the Governor?

That I don't know, but I believe that there is. There are funds for CIP for the university that owner has included, but how much I don't.

Okay, thank you Dean. Members, any other questions? If not moving on to House Bill 2005 Language access up first, Shipta State Health Planning and Development Agency will be here in the room not seeing them, providing testimony and support. Up next, University of Hawaii testifying in support.

Good afternoon Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Deborah Halbert, Vice President for. Academic Strategy for the UH system. She'll stand on our testimony. I will add that I was able to touch base with the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence at the University of Manoa this afternoon and she said that. The best place for credit programs would.

Be in credit bearing academic program and that outreach college is a viable option. For non credit programs. Though there are different reorganization conversations underway there. So there may be more conversations we need to have about that piece. Thank you. Okay, thank you.

Up next, Office of Language Access. Ms. Mizuno testifying in support.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, my name is Mamie Zuno, Executive Director of the Office of Language Access. We stand on our testimony in strong support for House Bill 2005. And if you have any questions, I will be here to answer. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Up next, Hawaii Coalition for immigrant rights. Ms. Gill testifying in support.

Hello, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Lizaraine Gill with the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights. I just want to put like a little finer point on this. We get a chance to work with Waipahu High School students that go through the seal of biliteracy. They're graduating about 100 kids a year that have, that are bilingual, biliterate.

And we want every single one of those kids to go into a job that is expanding language access here in Hawaii. One of those reasons is in the response that we worked with HYIMA and many other organizations in responding to Lahaina survivors. More than 30% of them were LEP.

And we desperately lacked the workforce that was bilingual and biliterate and bicultural to be able to address those needs. It's something we have to think about as one of our most valuable assets in the state. All of these kids that are, that are completing these programs should be staying and doing this work in the state. Mahalo.

Okay, thank you. By LEP referring to limited English proficiency. All right, thank you. Okay, up next, the legal clinic. Ms. Aguayani testifying in support.

Chair Garrett and Vice Chair Amato and Members of the Committee. I have a nice written testimony which you have already. I won't repeat myself. I just want to highlight some parts of it, which is that this bill will increase language access, meet academic education objectives, develop workforce and career opportunities that are needed in our community.

So my testimony does have percentages of how many limited English speakers there are here and the languages that we have here. And some of the nonprofit organizations as well as state agencies would really need to hire people who, who would be eligible for this program.

100 years ago, I was at the University of Hawaii, so I sort of know how programs, academic and programs, student services programs work there. And I believe that the proposal would be actually be both credit and non credit.

For example, some of the participants of our program would be actually current University Hawaii students, would be University of Hawaii students. They may be taking a course and have a component of that academic credit be the part of, would fulfill the curriculum that we will be proposing, plus a non credit option would be available also.

And so I think we are trying to make sure. That it is system wide. So like someone from HILO could be enrolled in their HILO programs and the kinds of curriculum that we would do would probably support a lecturer or something, someone like that.

So we do think that it should be system wide and that undergraduates, community college graduate students would be able to participate and they could do that through existing academic courses as well as the new non accredited workshops or curriculum. Thank you.

All right, thank you very much. Also in person, Marinelli Joy Gulek testifying in support.

Good afternoon, Chair Garrett. Mr. Chairman and Representatives sending out my testimony. I just wanted to highlight that this would be an effort that would underscore and continue the value of multilingualism that the DOE already promotes with the sale of biliteracy.

And by offering this type of training program at the University of Hawaii and making it system wide, we make that value extend and we provide a workforce development component to show that we really value the, the different languages and cultures that are represented throughout our state. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Okay, we have anyone else on Zoom. Okay. We did have Aloha Care signed up to testify and support not available via Zoom. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify? Sorry, Department of Labor and Industrial Relationship Support.

Chair Garrett, Vice Chair Amato, Members of. The Committee, Jay Shibashi on behalf of Director jpi.

Speak up just a little bit please.

Can you speak up a little bit please?

Sorry.

Sorry. Yeah. The Department stands on its testimony in support.

Okay, thank you. DLIR and support Members. August, please.

And if you haven't signed up to testify, if you can just fill out that form.

Oh, I will. Good afternoon, my name is Andrew. This is my first time I'm testifying for bills. I'm from Ukraine and I think it's really important for me to speak up for you for my people who here. I'm refugee. I flew from the war.

You know, in Ukraine we have a huge war and language success is really important because Hawaii for me specifically, I have never think about Hawaii as a tourist event. So I came here as a refugee and started working, living and helping people, community. And I also helping people who doesn't know English.

My English is still okay, but I work with other people who cannot even access for the medical bill, like reading, understanding, how to grocery shopping, go to school or whatever. So I really want to say my huge support for this bill. And I think I'm going to see you soon as well. So thank you. Thank you.

And I'm gonna put you in my.

Name if you could. Thank you very Much. Anyone else in the room wishing to testify? Okay, sing that. Members, please note, we have, let's see, testimony from the Tinaloc Filipino Education Council at, uh Manoa, the Waipahu Safe Haven center, and several individuals. Okay, Members, any questions? House Bill 2005. Yes, Reverend Chicago.

Liza, please. Hi. Can you share with the Committee what. Are the current requirements and steps to become a recognized interpreter or translator? What is entailed? What do they need to sign up for? What are the requirements?

Yeah, I mean, Judge Mathuno might be able to speak more clearly to that from the Office of Language Access, but I will. I'll just. I'll note that for the judiciary and for. In medical settings, you do have to go through specialized training to be able to do that.

Some of the issues that we've experienced in there is that we haven't had enough folks in our. Some of our Pacific Islander and Micronesian languages that have gone through all of that training that are sufficiently bilingual to be able to proctor the exams for those to get officially certified in some of them.

So we do end up having a lot. Speaking from the medical field. We do end up having a lot of informal translation, which can be really detrimental because most oftentimes children don't understand the actual terminology that is being explained to them.

And then they get put in the decision of having to make medical decisions for a loved one who is older. Them, they're a minor, you know, anywhere from 6 to 14 years old, and they're having to make medical decisions for Members of their family, which is why we want to make sure that we have that continuity.

But I'll let the Director speak.

Thank you so much. Thank you for that question. Right now, here in Hawaii, language access is a law. But interpreters, they don't have concrete requirement to become a translator or an interpreter.

Is there like a special credential, like you have to be licensed or like. What is the standard, the level of. Standard, or what is recognized to become a. To become a formally recognized.

For the judiciary, they do trainings, and when you finish two day of trainings, then you can take the exam. Oh, there's an exam? Yeah, just an exam for now and.

Then in the medical field, you know, like, for translators. Okay, thank you. Thank you.

Sorry. If you could stay there. Is it like a pass fail kind of exam or you haven't reached a certain score? They have to.

Yeah, they have to pass certain score. I don't know the cap right now.

Okay, thank you. Yes, Vice Chair.

Thank you. Chair. Question for Ms. Albert, please. So you Mentioned the credit courses would be here on Oahu and perhaps non credit courses on the Maple island campuses. But I mean, following the fire in Lahaina, we saw that there was a great need for people in translation services.

Is there any effort or demand to expand the credit courses system wide?

Well, I think the question would be whether this could be an online program. And if it was going through outreach as a non credit program, then we. Would obviously have to investigate the asynchronous. And online aspects of it. There's definitely a move at the university. As a whole to identify statewide needs for online programs.

So again, this is would be early. Conversations about that kind of thing. So your comments are well timed.

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Okay, thank you. Vice Chair Members, Any other questions? House Bill 2005, seeing none. Moving on to our penultimate Bill on this agenda, House Bill 1790 relating to releasing up first the Attorney General early on. Zoom. Nope. Oh in person providing comments.

Yes. Good afternoon, Chair. Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Deputy Attorney General Trish Nakamatsu, praying on behalf of the Department of the Attorney General. We submitted comments, suggested amendments, and specifically we suggested specific wording that could be used to avoid potential constitutional concerns. Also, some terminology issues that we saw.

We suggested that the word law enforcement be used instead of police and places where that occurs. In the Bill, we suggested additional language to clarify police oversight agency and a few other terms, physical force, serious bodily injury and the word as firing available. Zero. I should note also that there is.

This does appear to be an exceptionally large undertaking on behalf of the law enforcement and the police oversight agents or the law enforcement agent oversight agencies. So we are deferring to them as far as their ability to as far as resources and their ability to carry this out. Available for questions, if any.

Okay, thank you very much. Up next, in person, Hawaii Crime Lab.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, I'm testifying in support of HB 1790. I'm Dr. Ashley Rubin, Associate professor of. Sociology and Principal Investigator of the Hawaii Crime Lab. I support this legislation because it would. Be a great opportunity for my lab. To be useful to the people of Hawai' I and for my students and.

Me to conduct impactful research. HB 1790 gives my lab the opportunity. To assist with legislatively identified concerns without. Requiring additional state appropriations. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. You have my written testimony. I'm available for questions.

Okay, thank you very much. Up next, Alzheimer's association testifying support.

Aloha Chair Garrett, Vice Chair Amato Members of the Committee I 'm Kobe Chock with the Alzheimer's Association, and we submitted comments on this bill. We propose that dementia or suspecting cognitive impairment to be added explicitly. The bill already mentions, let's see, perceived disability status or whether a person appeared to be experiencing mental health or behavioral crisis.

That does not include dementia. And therefore, whenever there are issues, the only way we know that it happens is because there's a big news story that someone's wandered off and we're looking for them, or anecdotally from people that we work with and our constituents.

So we ask that Alzheimer's or cognitive impairment be added as one of the things that police also require so we have a better idea of what we need to do and specifically where we need to focus to really promote risk mitigation for kapuna and those living with dementia and Alzheimer's. Thank you. Okay, thank you very much.

Via Zoom is the Policing Project at NYU School of Law Online in support?

Yes. Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, I'm Josh Parker. My testimony in support of HB 1790 draws on our work with different states across the country on enacting and implementing policing data collection laws that is essential for identifying the policies that further public safety and those that don't.

But currently, Hawaii doesn't require its police departments to collect some of the most basic data many other states have collected for years. Take stop data. Over 20 states, big and small, already require all their police departments to collect stop data, including Alabama, California and Montana. Hawaii is not among them.

Hawaii can follow the lead of a number of states that Fund their data collection programs through NHTSA's Section 1906 Grant Program, which awards grants of up to over $1 million annually to any state that passes a law like this one requiring the publication of demographic data for traffic stops.

State data reporting agencies in states like Connecticut, Oregon and Maryland use the funding to hire additional full time statistical analysts, pay third party vendors for data collection software and associated apps and web forms that allow officers to report the data at no cost and to train and offer technical assistance to officers.

And a number of states including Alaska, Connecticut, Maine and Washington, task university entities just like Hawaii Crime Lab with leading policing or crime data collection and analysis. Thank you. And I'm open to any questions.

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Parker. Also via Zoom center for Policing Equity. Not present. Testifying in support. Okay, is there anyone else in the room wishing to Testify on Hospital 1790? Seeing none.

Members please note we have testimony on this bill in support from the Office of the Public Defender, the Boy Applesley center for Law and Economic Justice, ACLU of Hawaii, the National Police Accountability Project, the Connecticut Stop Data Collection program and an individual and comments from the Department of Law Enforcement Members. Any questions? House Bill 1790. Saying none.

Move on to our last bill on this agenda. House Bill 1873 relating to the Board of Regents of the University. Up first the Attorney General.

Good afternoon. Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee there is a concern with the term deliberation and we also have the comment about the lobbying matter of statewide concern. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Ms. Park. Let's see University Board of Regents folks want to testify. Yeah. Thank you.

Chair Lee, Chair, Vice chair and Committee Members. I'm Gabe Lee with the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. And on bill 1873 I wanted to comment about the Chairs op ed in Cebu Beat the I thought that was very good and I'm hoping that it could be added to this bill.

The well first of all I'm here representing myself. The the board doesn't meet on our legislative agenda until I think it's a few weeks from now. But okay.

What I'm saying is as an individual but I think it ties the public financial disclosures I think will if we eliminated that that would really widen the pool of candidates for the Board of Regents. One of the segments that's talked about in the Bill where you mentioned that the Regents Advisory Council should seek certain type of skills.

One of the areas which I'm part of is the large scale organizational management and mostly you're going to get that from the C suite of say a Bishop street company or a large company that has many subsidiaries.

And I think that's a very important the when it was when the Bill was I think it was like 2014 or 2013 where it was made it was a requirement. We saw some people drop off the board and that was mostly a C suite large company senior management. But it will help get that done.

I'm often asked by when you know I'm around town why to do it. Yeah because now it's all public information. But I had filled out I was on the board of Hawaii State Board of Accountancy for eight years prior.

So I filled out the disclosures and I know what is public information and when I try to explain to when people are asking me I go ah, it's not that bad. You know this is this and you know by the by the time I get done explaining everything, they're not listening. They just still think I shouldn't have.

I Shouldn't put all that out there. So I just want to let you know that I'm in support of adding that to the Bill.

Okay. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify? Hospital 1873 Members, please note, we have comments from the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, the Office of Information Practices, and an individual. And we have testimony and opposition from the Hawaii Professional Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists, and the Public First Law center Members. Any questions?

House Bill 1873. Okay. Chair Leaf, I can just ask you to come back up in your individual capacity again, recognizing that the regents hasn't formally discussed this Bill. Yes. What are some of the other issues that you hear from people in the community that might give them pause to serving on the Board of Regents?

Aside from the public disclosure of financial information? The.

It's. I think it's just. It is the most public board, and I think there's just a lot of scrutiny around it. And it's, you know, like the other boards, it's televised and then. And you get a lot of comments and you sit through a lot of testimony.

But when you look at the other boards, I think just the length of time, you know, the meetings and then I think the. Well, that's. I would say that's pretty much the.

Reiterate. This is an unpaid position on the board. Yeah. And it takes a lot of time. Right. Okay. Thank you, Chair. Members, any other questions? House Bill 1873 saying, none. We will take a short recess. Reconvening the House Committee on Higher Education this time for purposes of decision making, noting full attendance of our Committee, all 10 Members.

The first bill is House Bill 1596 relating to student basic need support at the University of Hawaii. In this bill, the Chair's recommendation is to suggest an HD1, noting that the bill already has a blank appropriation. The recommendation is to blank out the current FTE counts and add a defective date of 7, 1, 3000 to facilitate further discussion.

Members, any questions? House Bill 1596, seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Thank you. Chair. Voting on HB 1596, Chair's recommendations is to pass with amendments [Roll Call] All right, thank you, Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Okay, thank you, Vice Chair. Members, next bill. House Bill 1597, likewise suggesting an HD one. Strong support for this Alzheimer Research center within. Jeff Sum. Yes. Let's see here.

Chair's recommendation again, HD1 blanking out the appropriations as well as the FTE counts, adding a defective date of 713000 and adding in the Attorney General's suggestion that this matter is one of statewide concern. So this with the, uh, autonomy question. So with that HD1 Members, any questions? Comments, Concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Thank you, Chair. Voting on HB 1597, Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments noting the presence of all Members. Are there any Members voting with reservations? Any Members voting no? Thank you, Chair. Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. Mexico Hospital 1970 relating to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. This is the bill regarding the Hawaii Tumor registry. Strong support for this one as well. Chair's recommendation is an HD1 blanking out the appropriations and adding a Defective date of 7, 1, 3000 Members. Any discussion? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HB 1970 recommendation is passed with amendments noting the presence of all Members. Until we're done, is there anyone voting with reservations? Are there any no votes? Thank you, Chair. Your recommendation is adopted.

Okay, thank you, Members. Next Bill, Hospital 1598 relating to the Hawaii Climate Institute. Chair's recommendation here is to also pass this out with an HD1. Have a few rather technical amendments here. There is language on page. On page four that directs the President to hire these positions.

That's a little, say, not standard in terms of legislative parliament. So we'll modify that to read. The position shall be hired to support the Hawaii Climate Institute and then move into the listing of those positions. We will blank out the FTE count as well as the appropriation itself. There's two sections with $3 million each.

We're also going to blank out the percentage that was dedicated from the green fee of 6%. So we'll blank that out. We'll add in the Attorney General suggestion regarding again the statewide concern and a Defective date of 7, 1, 3000 Members. Any discussion? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Thank you, Chair. Voting on HV1598. Recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any Members with reservations? Any Members voting no? Thank you, Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Okay, thank you, Members. House Bill 1989. This was regarding the water retention study by Soest. The Chair's recommendation on this one is to defer indefinitely. There wasn't quite a groundswell of support, and I got the sense that this would not be soas highest priority. And I'm frankly not hopeful that the appropriation of 750,000 will come through.

So the Chair's recommendation here is to defer indefinitely. Members, any discussion? Okay, seeing none. Moving on to the next bill. House Bill 1951 related to biosecurity. This is the one for the CTAHR center for Biosecurity Research Education and Extension. Chair's recommendation Here is an HD1 blanking out the appropriations that total $45 million. Heating CTAR. Suggestion.

We are going to add a new subsection that includes a blank amount for planning and design so they can do this in sequential order and adding an effective date of 7, 1, 3000 Members. Any discussion? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote please.

Thank you Chair. Voting on HB 1951 passed with amendments. Are there any Members voting with reservations? Any Members voting no? Thank you Chair. Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you very much. Members Hospital 1952. Relating to agriculture. This is the funding bill for the CTAHR Extension center on Kauai. So I'm glad Rep. Evslin made it in time to vote on this. Chair's recommendation is also an HD1 removing the appropriation and adding a defective date of 7, 1, 3000 Members. Any discussion?

Vice Chair for the vote please.

Thank you Chair. Voting on HB 1952 recommendation is passed with amendments. Are there any Members with reservations? Any Members voting no? Thank you Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. Next Bill. House Bill 2005 relating to language access. This is part of the Filipino Caucus package. Members will note that there already a blank appropriation. The recommendation here is to make it to do an HD1 blanking out the FTE count of three positions that's currently listed and adding a defective date of 7, 1. 3000.

This is a triple referral. So trying to keep this moving along. Members, any Discussion? House Bill 2005 if not Vice Chair for the vote please.

Voting on HB 2005 recommendation is passed with amendments. Any Members with reservations? Any Members voting no? Thank you Chair. Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. Next bill. House Bill 1790 relating to policing. Members, we have some pretty good comments from the Attorney General's office UH as well as Alzheimer's Association. I want to work on an HD1.

And again as I noted at the top of this hearing, I don't want you folks to vote blind on a bill that requires substantial work.

So the Chair's recommendation here is to defer this until Friday, February 6th at 2:10pm so that'll be a standalone decision making only agenda and we will circulate a proposed HD1 pre review prior to that bill. Okay. Last bill, House Bill 1873 relating to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

This bill is intended to strengthen some of the governance requirements and training around it. There is an exemption from the open Meeting or Sunshine Law limited to strategic planning retreats of the University. We did hear from the Attorney General's office that the word deliberation may undermine the intent of the bill. So we will strike that word.

That's on page one, line eight. In light of the discussion with Chair Lee again here in his individual capacity, we are going to add a new Section 4, which would exempt the Board of Regents from having their filing disclosures made public. Just to be clear, they still would have to file it. They would just no longer.

It would no longer be publicly available. But again, the Ethics Commission will still have it. And we'll do some stylistic changes to add this Bill. No. Into three parts with the inclusion of that new exemption and also heeding the Attorney General's comment about needing to add a section regarding this being one of statewide concern. Members, any discussion?

Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Thank you, Chair. Voting on our final bill of the day, HB 1873. Any Members voting with reservations?

Reservations?

Reservations for Rep. Olds. Any Members voting? No. Thank you, Chair. Your recommendation is adopted.

Okay, thank you, Members. We'll see you folks on Friday. This meeting is adjourned.