STAND. COM. REP. NO. 970-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2175

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

 

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 S.B. No. 2175, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the University of Hawaii (UH) to establish a Hawaii Scholarship Trust Fund (Trust Fund) to dispense scholarships as a requirement of the State's participation in the federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP).

UH testified in support of this measure. The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee recognizes the importance of establishing the Trust Fund and notes its establishment in another vehicle that is going through the legislative process.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by deleting its contents and inserting language that:

(1) Provides tuition waivers for:

(a) Qualified enlisted members of the Hawaii National Guard; and

(b) Children of:

(i) Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and water safety officers who have been permanently or totally disabled or killed in the line of duty;

(ii) Qualified disabled Hawaii veterans; and

(iii) Veterans declared prisoners of war or missing in action;

and

(2) Requires tuition refunds for members of the Hawaii National Guard or military reserves who are ordered to active duty, and full-time active duty members of the military who are unable to attend school for more than 60 days during the semester due to requirements of military service.

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 S.B. No. 2175, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2175,

S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

 

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair