Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 296 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to make a $1,000,000 appropriation for tuition assistance for National Guard enrolled in degree programs at the University of Hawaii.

The Department of Defense, Hawaii National Guard Association, and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii testified in support of this bill. The University of Hawaii supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that the tuition assistance program is one of the most effective recruiting tools available to the National Guard and also provides excellent incentive for retaining its valued soldiers and aviators.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 296, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 296, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.