House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection Tuesday, February 10, 2015 8:30 a.m. HB 1511, Relating to the Employees’ Retirement System. Dear Chairman Lee and Committee Members: The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly opposes proposed measure HB 1511. The measure which seeks divestiture of investments in fossil fuel companies does not advance the interests of public employees. To the contrary, the Employee Retirement System already bases its investment decision on policy that recognizes socially-responsible considerations. The impact of divestiture is unknown and [...]

House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection Tuesday, February 10, 2015 8:30 a.m. HB 1509, HD1 (Proposed), Relating to Energy. Dear Chairman Lee and Committee Members: The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly enthusiastically supports passage of this bill as a creative way to address energy needs of the University of Hawaii and the renovation of its deteriorating buildings and infrastructures. This has never been a greater win-win situation for the University for its cause and independence. Respectively submitted, J.N. Musto, Ph.D. Executive [...]

House Committee on Labor & Public Employment Tuesday, February 10, 2015 9:00 a.m. HB 1048, Relating to Elections. Dear Chairman Nakashima and Committee Members: The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly supports proposed measure HB 1048. Currently the ability of public employees to seek and obtain public office is restricted by requirements that upon election to office the employee must resign or be terminated in their employment. These requirements are onerous and actively discourages citizens from participating in elected office simply because they [...]

Senate Committee on Higher Education and the Arts Thursday, February 5, 2015 2:00 p.m. SB 1240, Proposing a Constitutional Amendment to Article X, Section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution to Modify the Appointment Process for the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii. Dear Chairperson Taniguchi and Committee Members: On behalf of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, our union supports the repeal of the candidate advisory council for the Board of Regents through a constitutional amendment. We believe the [...]

Senate Committee on Higher Education and the Arts Thursday, February 5, 2015 2:00 p.m. SB 1239, Relating to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii. Dear Chairperson Taniguchi and Committee Members: On behalf of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, our union supports the repeal of the candidate advisory council for the Board of Regents through ratification of a constitutional amendment. We believe the current system used to select members of the Board of Regents has become so onerous that [...]

The Senate Joint Committee on Higher Education and the Arts and Committee on Judiciary and Labor Thursday, February 5, 2015 1:30 p.m. SB 638, Relating to Collective Bargaining. Dear Chairmans Taniguchi and Keith-Agaran and Committee Members: The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly urges the committee to support passage of this proposed measure by amendments to the Hawaii Revised Statues Chapter 90 that will advance the interests of graduate assistants. These employees are essential to instruction and research that contribute to the overall [...]

The Senate Joint Committee on Higher Education and the Arts and Committee on Judiciary and Labor Thursday, February 5, 2015 1:30 p.m. SB 637, Proposing an Amendment to the Hawaii Constitution to Divest Exclusive Jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii Over the Internal Structure, Management, and Operations of the University of Hawaii. Dear Chairmans Taniguchi and Keith-Agaran and Committee Members: The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly originally opposed the Constitutional Amendment that granted what was commonly called [...]

House Committee on Higher Education Thursday, February 5, 2015 2:00 p.m. HB 555, Relating to the University of Hawaii. Dear Chairman Choy and Committee Members: The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly opposes the adoption of this measure. The measure is imprecise in its application and definition of undergraduate degree granting programs. As a result, there can be unintended consequences regarding blanket elimination of program that would undermine undergraduate education. Further, the measure asserts legislative micro-management into the University of Hawaii and its [...]

House Committee on Higher Education Thursday, February 5, 2015 2:00 p.m. HB 543, Relating to the University of Hawaii. Dear Chairman Choy and Committee Members: The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly opposes the adoption of this measure. The process of a state audit regarding faculty workload is one which requires specific expertise and resources that currently do not exist. The proposed measure delves into areas of which are most appropriately addressed within the University of Hawaii academic community and within the collective [...]