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?