Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2037 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide tuition and fee exemptions at state-supported colleges, universities, and technical schools for children of:

The Department of Defense, Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department, and Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, submitted testimony in support of this bill. The University of Hawaii submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill. The Hawaiian Lifeguard Association submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill and proposed an amendment.

Your Committee finds that this bill will support students whose parents were killed, disabled, imprisoned by enemy forces, or missing in action as a result of providing public safety or national defense services. In many cases, the sacrifices made by these students' parents may have left the students with limited resources to pursue higher education. Your Committee finds that it is in the State's interest to assist these students and their families.

However, your Committee notes that there are certain inconsistencies and unclear language in this bill as drafted. Section 1 of the bill, relating to children of firefighters and medical and public safety personnel provides that the children of these individuals shall not be required to pay tuition and fees. However, Sections 2 and 3 relating to children of veterans provide that the children of these individuals shall receive a specific amount of benefits. Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Finance address this issue and examine other language in the bill that may result in difficulties in administering the tuition and fee exemptions.

Upon further consideration, 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. 2037, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2037, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.