House Higher Education & Technology committee advances nursing, audits, veterinary and Alzheimer study; foundation audit deferred

The House Committee on Higher Education & Technology met April 9 in Room 309 and voted to advance several Senate concurrent resolutions directing audits and feasibility studies for University of Hawaii programs, while deferring a proposed performance audit of the private University of Hawaii Foundation.

The committee passed SCR 50, as amended to refer to Maui College rather than “Maui campus,” urging the Board of Regents and the university president to establish a Bachelor of Science in nursing at Maui College. Della Tara Woka of the University of Hawaii system and Jack Lewin of the Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency testified in support of the nursing resolution, noting shortages particularly on Maui. The committee adopted the chair’s technical amendment and recorded a roll call on the measure: Chair Garrett — aye; Acting Vice Chair Veil — aye; Rep. Capella — aye; Rep. LaChica — aye; Rep. Olds — aye; Rep. Sayama — aye; Rep. Moraoka — aye. Rep. Amato, Rep. Eslin and Rep. Woodson were excused; Rep. Souza was excused for this item. The chair declared the recommendation adopted.

The committee deferred SCR 137, which requested a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation. The chair explained the legislative auditor had told the committee it lacks jurisdiction over a private nonprofit; John Han, representing the University of Hawaii Foundation, said he had submitted written testimony and was present to answer questions. After discussion the chair recommended deferral and the committee did not advance the measure.

The committee voted to pass SCR 138 SD1 (adopted as HD1), requesting a management and performance audit of the office of the vice president for academic strategy. Deborah Halbert, vice president for academic strategy for the University of Hawaii system, and Steven Schatz provided comments. The chair’s amendment clarified the auditor would “submit an audit” rather than a “report.” The measure passed on the chair’s recommendation; a roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.

The committee also passed SCR 142 SD1 (adopted as HD1), requesting the legislative auditor examine the University of Hawaii at Manoa athletics department’s use and management of funds. Lois Mannen, acting athletics director at UH–Mānoa, testified and responded to committee questions about NCAA reporting, recent litigation settlements tied to name-image-and-likeness (NIL) and antitrust cases, conference membership, facility plans and fundraising. Mannen said the department’s NCAA report can show a deficit even where other accounting shows a net income, and she described several financial uncertainties the department is managing. The chair recommended the audit to provide a baseline for an incoming athletics director; the measure passed on the chair’s recommendation (no roll call recorded).

SCR 192 (HD1) asking the University of Hawaii system to form a veterinary medicine expansion working group to explore feasibility of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program was passed with amendments. The chair removed a specific requirement that the program be sited at Windward Community College and elevated the request to the UH system level; UH representatives provided recommended working group membership. The Hawaii Humane Society testified in support.

SCR 193 SD1 (adopted as HD1) asking the community colleges to develop a comprehensive list of bachelor’s programs and workforce pathways aligned to regional industry needs passed with technical amendments.

SCR 203, asking UH to study feasibility and federal funding requirements for an Alzheimer’s disease research center, passed as introduced. Kobe Chock of the Alzheimer’s Association of Hawaii testified in strong support, saying the state’s diverse population should be included in federally funded research opportunities.

The committee recessed briefly earlier in the meeting when it was one member short of a quorum, later reconvened for decision making and adjourned after the votes.

Votes at a glance • SCR 50 HD1 (nursing at Maui College) — Passed; roll-call votes recorded for seven aye votes; several members excused. • SCR 137 (UH Foundation performance audit) — Deferred (chair’s recommendation; auditor jurisdiction issue). • SCR 138 SD1 HD1 (audit of office of VP for academic strategy) — Passed (chair’s recommendation; technical amendment to require an audit). • SCR 142 SD1 HD1 (audit of UH–Mānoa athletics funds) — Passed (chair’s recommendation). • SCR 192 HD1 (veterinary medicine feasibility working group) — Passed with amendments removing a community-college site-specific requirement. • SCR 193 SD1 HD1 (community colleges to list bachelor’s programs aligned to workforce) — Passed with technical amendments. • SCR 203 (Alzheimer’s disease research center feasibility) — Passed as introduced.

Why it matters: The measures advance system-level reviews and feasibility work that could shape degree offerings, university oversight and potential funding requests to the Legislature. Several items — notably the athletics audit and the veterinary working group — were advanced with changes intended to align scope to the University of Hawaii system rather than a single campus.

What’s next: Most measures advanced to the next step in the legislative process with the chair’s technical amendments; SCR 137 was deferred pending jurisdictional clarification or other action.