STAND. COM. REP.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 3 2024
RE: S.R. No. 172
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred
S.R. No. 172 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY TO CONSIDER UTILIZING FUNDS FOR NON-CONGREGATE HOUSING
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS FOR AFFORDABLE
RENTAL HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to consider utilizing funds for non­
congregate housing for infrastructure and development needs for
affordable rental housing.
Prior to decision making on this measure, your Committee made
available for public review a proposed S.D. 1 of this measure.
The proposed S.D. 1 requests the University of Hawaii to develop a
comprehensive plan to address student housing facility needs at
the Manoa campus.
Your Committee received testimony in support of the proposed
S.D. 1 from the University of Hawai‘i System.
Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of available
and affordable housing statewide. Additionally, there is a
limited supply of on-campus student housing available for students
attending the University of Hawaii, which has placed students into
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the general rental market, further increasing demand for rental
housing. While the University of Hawaii Student Housing Services
comprise of twenty-one residential buildings, a majority of the
Student Housing Services residences have not undergone any major
renovation or improvement since constructed in the 1970s, with the
exception for renovations and construction of the Hale Aloha
Towers and Frear Hall in 2008-2009. The Student Housing Services
business model has historically prioritized affordability, which
has now compromised the future financial and economic
sustainability of needed major repairs and renovations of the
aging facilities. Moreover, the physical condition of certain on-
campus facilities have compromised their ability to remain in
service.
Your Committee further finds that the Hale Noelani facility
is an on-campus Student Housing Services facility comprised of
five buildings, originally constructed in 1978 and included over
five hundred beds. However, the Hale Noelani buildings were
closed and taken out of service in 2018 due to significant
deficiencies in the building conditions. Furthermore, the
University of Hawaii also operates faculty housing and offers
below-market rates to new faculty members, but does not generate
sufficient revenue to help offset the construction of additional
faculty housing units. Your Committee also finds that the
University of Hawaii must seek new repair, maintenance, and
development models, to include novel approaches to financing the
renovation, improvements, and expansions of its existing on-campus
housing inventory for students and faculty members, both through
public financing or public-private partnership options. As the
Student Housing Services business model does not provide for long­
term financial stability, diverse sources of funds should be
utilized for student housing facilities as evidenced by the
Residences for Innovation and Student Entrepreneurs and residences
for graduate students at the former National Marine Fisheries
site, which would provide funding necessary to operate and
maintain housing programs on campus. Therefore, this measure
requests the University of Hawaii to establish a business model
that provides a reliable stream of revenue to sustain long-term
viability of buildings utilized for student housing operations at
the Manoa campus.
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Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Adopting the proposed S.D. 1; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report,
your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R.
No. 172, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the
form attached hereto as S.R. No. 172, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Higher Education,
DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Higher Education
HRE
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
Si2.n2- O3-28'-2.M
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to: ___________________________________
The Recommendation is: .
Pass, unamended ^-^Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 ' 2311_______________ 2310_________2313
Members Ayex Aye (WR) Nay Excused
KIM, Donna Mercado (C)
KIDANI, Michelle N. (VC)
FUKUNAGA, Carol ----
HASHIMOTO. Troy N.
FEVELLA, Kurt
TOTAL L-
Recommendation: i—
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature:
Distribution; Original Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised; 12/27/23