STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1816

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.B. No. 456
                                     S.D. 2
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No.
456, S.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TUITION WAIVERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase access to higher
education for Hawaiians by appropriating funds to the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs to reimburse the University of Hawaii
(University) for providing tuition waivers to Hawaiian students
or part Hawaiian students.

     The University, Kuikalahiki, the Nation of Ku, the State
Representative from the Seventh District, and five individuals
testified in support of the bill.  The Hawaiian Political Action
Council of Hawaii testified in support of the intent of the bill.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ka na Ha, and four individuals
commented on the bill.  A petition was submitted with numerous
signatures supporting free tuition for all students of Hawaiian
ancestry.

     Your Committee has amended the bill by deleting its
substance and replacing it with language that:

     (1)  Authorizes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to expend
          funds for the tuition of native Hawaiian and Hawaiian
          students attending the University; and

 
 
 
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                                 Page 2

 
     (2)  Clarifies that the Board of Regents may provide tuition
          waivers or reduce tuition and other fees for students
          who are Hawaiian or native Hawaiian.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
456, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third
Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 456, S.D. 2,
H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Finance,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair