Bill Text: HI SB1546 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To The University Of Hawaii At Hilo.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB1546 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB1546-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1546
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State has two official languages, with both an English language medium education pathway and a Hawaiian language medium education pathway available from kindergarten through high school.  Act 46, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, appropriated funds for the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa astronomy center and University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian language college to help establish a pathway for the development of Hawaiian language medium early education.  The Hawaiian language college has developed an early education certificate taught entirely through the medium of Hawaiian and based in scientifically researched childhood development and cognitive development within a Hawaiian language medium education context.  Imiloa astronomy center has successfully provided educational outreach to the State's students through innovative approaches and delivery that greatly strengthen the State’s goal of expanding Hawaiian language medium early education within the State.

     The legislature further finds that the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa astronomy center identifies Hawaiian language proficiency development as a bottleneck in the development of Hawaiian language medium early education teachers.  The United States Foreign Service finds Hawaiian language proficiency requires approximately one thousand one hundred hours of study, much more than the standard number of hours currently accorded Hawaiian language study outside of the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian language college.  Standard foreign language learning models and the scheduling of foreign language learning in state high school and university settings both present challenges to the development of Hawaiian language medium early education teachers.

     The legislature further finds that an institute model would allow the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa astronomy center's year-round scheduling flexibility to extend to the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian language college and increase the center and college's collective agility in responding to opportunities to develop Hawaiian language proficiency and Hawaiian language medium early education sites and programs.  An institute would help reduce the large Hawaiian language medium education teacher shortage throughout kindergarten to twelfth grade; expand the center and college's collective reach and potential to address the State's and community's Hawaiian language needs; and produce work that would stand as a model for serving the distinctive needs of other indigenous peoples and marginalized groups, especially with regards to high-quality early education from a distinctive language base.  Therefore, an institute model is crucial for the proper development of a Hawaiian language medium early education pathway.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish an institute of indigenous education, science, and outreach within the University of Hawaii at Hilo through a collaboration between the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa astronomy center and University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian language college.  The institute shall be administrated as a distinctive unit within the University of Hawaii with unique powers of scheduling, outreach, and functionality from those of the University of Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new subpart to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"  .  Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach

     §304A-    Institute of indigenous education, science, and outreach; establishment.  (a)  There is established the institute of indigenous education, science, and outreach.  The institute shall be placed within the University of Hawaii at Hilo through a collaboration between the University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa astronomy center and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian language college; provided that the institute shall have its own unique powers of scheduling, outreach, and functionality from those of the University of Hawaii; provided further that the institute may incorporate as a nonprofit corporation to further its objectives.

     (b)  The qualifying standards and conditions relating to the receipt of funds under chapter 42F shall not apply to funds received by the institute; provided that if the institute contracts with a recipient or provider, the qualifying standards, conditions, and other provisions of chapter 42F shall apply to the recipient or provider and the contract.

     (c)  If the institute incorporates, to receive state funds, the institute shall:

     (1)  Be licensed or accredited in accordance with federal, state, or county laws, rules, or ordinances to conduct the activities or provide the services for which the funds are appropriated;

     (2)  Comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected class;

     (3)  Agree not to use state funds for entertainment or lobbying activities;

     (4)  Be incorporated pursuant to chapter 414D;

     (5)  Have been determined and designated to be a tax-exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service;

     (6)  Maintain bylaws or policies that describe the manner in which the activities or services for which a grant or subsidy is awarded shall be conducted or provided; and

     (7)  Include only members on the governing board who have no material conflict of interest and who shall serve without compensation.

     (d)  The institute shall seek, receive, and accept from public and private sources, whether located within or without the United States, grants, gifts, devises, bequests, or any other money or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, absolutely or in trust, to be used in carrying out the purposes of the institute.

     (e)  The institute may enter into purchase of power agreements.

     (f)  The institute may execute its duties under the purchase of power agreements throughout the affected tax map key areas.

     (g)  The comptroller and state auditor may examine the institute's use of state funds.

     §304A-    Patents, copyrights, and other rights.  Any patents, copyrights, inventions, discoveries, or other rights arising from activities of the institute of indigenous education, science, and outreach shall belong to the institute and shall be subject to policies or rules as adopted by the board of regents.

     §304A-    Annual report.  The institute of indigenous education, science, and outreach shall submit an annual report on the institute's activities to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii at Hilo; Imiloa Astronomy Center; Hawaiian Language College; Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach; Establishment

 

Description:

Establishes the Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach within the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.