Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1959 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to repeal the Hawaii Opportunity Program in Education (HOPE) Endowment Special Fund (Endowment Special Fund) and transfer the remaining balance to the University of Hawaii (UH) Tuition and Fees Special Fund to be used for programs to support underrepresented students and to promote diversity.

UH submitted testimony in support of this bill with a proposed amendment.

Your Committee finds that UH continues to seek ways to enroll students from ethnic groups that are underrepresented in its student population. By reallocating the funds in the Endowment Special Fund, UH will be able to increase opportunities for these students by concentrating on recruitment and retention efforts.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1959, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1959, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.