Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 628 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that higher education board allowances are available to eligible persons who were formerly foster children, and to add a third party to the list of allowable recipients of higher education allowances.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Human Services and the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that payments on behalf of the youth to another intermediary contracted by the Department of Human Services will facilitate the provision of this service when payment to the foster parent or institution of higher learning is not appropriate. This will facilitate the Department's work with former foster youth and better serve those who enter higher education.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 628, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 628, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.