RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

SB1204

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1204

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the UNIVERSITY of hawaii
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that the cancer
research center of Hawaii reduces the burden of cancer through research,
education, patient care, and community outreach.
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The cancer research center of Hawaii is the
only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in Hawaii and the
Pacific region.
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Furthermore, it is a
member of the Hawaii Cancer Consortium along with five hospital groups and the university
of Hawaii's John A. Burns school of medicine (JABSOM).

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JABSOM
educates and trains health care professionals, including physicians, biomedical
scientists, and allied health workers.
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JABSOM also conducts fundamental medical research and translates
discoveries into delivery practices.
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Because JABSOM is a community-based medical school without its own
university hospital, it partners with private hospitals in the community to
achieve its educational mission.

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The
public funds and other resources the State has made available to JABSOM and the
cancer research center of Hawaii have been substantial.
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The magnitude of state funds and other
resources provided to the university of Hawaii, the distinction of the
university being the sole public institution of higher education in the State,
and the cancer research center of Hawaii being the only NCI-designated cancer
center in Hawaii underscore the importance of establishing complementary
strategic priorities and coordinating the management and deployment of state
resources appropriated to JABSOM and the cancer research center of Hawaii.

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It
is in the public's interest that state resources be efficiently and effectively
managed to optimize the public benefits.
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Just as co-locating the physical facilities for JABSOM and the cancer
research center of Hawaii on adjoining sites in Kakaako promotes synergistic
efforts, the legislature determines that it is a statewide concern pursuant to
article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution, to ensure that the
management of public resources provided to JABSOM and the cancer research
center of Hawaii be integrated, coordinated, and focused on common priorities
to avoid unnecessary duplication of administrative expenses or conflicting
priorities.

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The
legislature further finds that as a matter of statewide concern pursuant to
article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the cancer research
center of Hawaii should be an organized research unit under the administrative
and management purview of JABSOM.
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The
legislature notes that the cancer research center of Hawaii and JABSOM share
many resources, including the health science library, fitness facility,
telecommunications system, and on-site security personnel.
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Merging the cancer research center of Hawaii
and JABSOM will eliminate redundancies in building construction, equipment expenses,
facilities operating expenses, and common staff positions, which will reduce
costs.
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Furthermore, a merger would
streamline future strategic collaborations, foster enhanced cooperation, and
create new opportunities for joint initiatives in medical research, education,
and patient care.

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Placing
resources devoted to training and educating physicians and conducting cancer
research in an integrated university organizational structure as opposed to
stand-alone and duplicative organizations will foster a uniform strategic
vision.
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Unified leadership will also
allow better coordination with the university of Hawaii's private partners in
the hospital community and with other state agencies.

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The legislature also notes that from 2014
to 2016, the university of Hawaii developed business plans, hired consultants,
and made presentations to its board of regents on the university's plans to
integrate the university of Hawaii Kakaako health science campus and eliminate
operational redundancies between JABSOM and the
cancer research center
of Hawaii
.
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Further, the university of Hawaii frequently
groups different organized research units within a larger administrative
structure.
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For example, the school of
ocean and earth science and technology encompasses several outstanding research
units, including the center for microbial oceanography: research and education
and Hawaii institute of marine biology.

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To maintain the NCI designation as a cancer
center consistent with NCI guidelines, the director of the
cancer
research center of Hawaii

shall continue to have a direct line of reporting and accountability to the
chancellor of the university of Hawaii at Manoa and the provost of the university
of Hawaii at Manoa shall also have a reporting line to the dean of JABSOM.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to require:

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(1)
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The cancer research center of Hawaii to
be reestablished in statute as an organized research unit within JABSOM;

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(2)
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The director of the cancer research
center of Hawaii to be appointed by the university of Hawaii's board of regents
upon recommendation from the chancellor of the university of Hawaii at Manoa
and the provost of the University of Hawaii at Manoa instead of the dean of
JABSOM;

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(3)
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The director of the cancer research
center of Hawaii to report to the chancellor of the university of Hawaii at
Manoa, the provost of the university of Hawaii at Manoa, and the dean of the
school of medicine and coordinate with the president of the university; and

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(4)
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Funds expended from or originating from
the research and training revolving fund established by section 304A-2253,
Hawaii Revised Statues, for JABSOM or the cancer research center of Hawaii to
be used for research and research-related purposes only.

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SECTION

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

" .
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Cancer Research Center of Hawaii

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304A-
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Cancer research unit.
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(a)
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There is established within the medical school of the university of
Hawaii an organized research unit, hereinafter known as the "cancer
research center of Hawaii", to conduct cancer research.
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The cancer research center of Hawaii shall be
administered by a director to be appointed by the board of regents upon
recommendation by the chancellor of the university of Hawaii at Manoa, and the
provost of the university of Hawaii at Manoa, with the concurrence of the
president of the university.
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The
director of the cancer research center of Hawaii shall report to the chancellor
of the university of Hawaii at Manoa, provost of the university of Hawaii at
Manoa, and the dean of the school of medicine and coordinate with the president
of the university.

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(b)
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Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, funds expended from, or originating from the research and training
revolving fund, established under section 304A-2253, for the school of medicine
or the cancer research center of Hawaii shall be used by the school of medicine
or the cancer research center of Hawaii for research and research-related
purposes only.

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(c)
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The cancer research center of Hawaii's agenda
shall focus on research, education, patient care, and community outreach and
should reflect an understanding of the ethnic, cultural, and environmental
characteristics of the State and the Pacific region.
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The cancer research center of Hawaii may:

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(1)
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Engage in international research
collaborations;

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(2)
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Underate research studies and clinical
trials; and

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(3)
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Participate in projects and programs of
the National Cancer Institute."

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SECTION

3
.
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Section
304A-2253, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

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"
�304A-2253
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Research and training revolving fund.
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(a)
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There is established a [
University
]
university
of Hawaii
research and training revolving fund into which shall be deposited one hundred
per cent of the total amount of indirect overhead revenues generated by the
university from research and training programs.
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The board of regents is authorized to expend one hundred per cent of the
revenues deposited in the fund for:

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(1)
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Research and training purposes that may
result in additional research and training grants and contracts;

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(2)
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Facilitating research and training at
the university; and

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(3)
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Further deposit into the discoveries
and inventions special fund.

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(b)
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The annual report required to be made for
this revolving fund shall include but not be limited to a breakdown of travel
expenses.

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(c)
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Notwithstanding section 304A-107 to the
contrary, the board of regents, or its designee, may establish a separate
account within the research and training revolving fund for the purpose of
providing advance funding to meet reimbursable costs incurred in connection
with federally financed research and training projects.
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Any reimbursement received as a result of
providing advance funding shall be deposited into the research and training
revolving fund to be used for the purpose of meeting reimbursable costs
incurred in connection with federally financed projects.

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(d)
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Revenues deposited into the fund shall not be
used as a basis for reducing any current or future budget request or allotment
to the university unless the university requests such a reduction.

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(e)
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Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, funds expended from or originating from the fund for the university
of Hawaii school of medicine or the cancer research center of Hawaii shall be
used by the school of medicine or the cancer research center of Hawaii for
research and research-related purposes only.
"

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SECTION

4
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Chapter 304A,
part IV, subpart R, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

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SECTION
5.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION
6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

UH;
JABSOM; Cancer Research Center of Hawaii; Research and Training Revolving Fund

Description:

Reestablishes
the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii as an organized research unit within the
University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) that is
administered by a director appointed by the University of Hawaii's board of
regents with direct lines of reporting to the chancellor of the University of
Hawaii at Manoa, provost of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and dean of
JABSOM.
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Requires funds expended from the
Research and Training Revolving Fund for JABSOM and the Cancer Research Center
of Hawaii to be used for research and research-related purposes only.
�
Repeals provisions that required the Cancer
Research Center of Hawaii to be administratively affiliated with JABSOM.

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