The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

9:30 am,  Room 309

RE: HB 1685, Relating to the University of Hawai‘i

Attention:    Chair Mark Nakashima, Vice Chair Jarrett Keohokalole and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to oppose passage of HB1685 as it prohibits the University of Hawai‘i from seeking the highly qualified faculty in a highly competitive vocation.

There are relatively few members of the faculty who qualify at this level of income.  The few who are in this category contribute financially through grants, endowments and other financial contributions they bring to the University system.  The financial contributions of these highly skilled, specialized faculty can amount to two or three times their salary.

It would appear that HB1685 would have a punitive impact on retaining, recruiting and growing a state of the art teaching institution in Hawai‘i and be counterproductive to the work of this legislative body.

UHPA urges the committee to oppose HB1685.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                 Executive Director