Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 357 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expand educational opportunities for youth who are exiting the foster care system by:

The Department of Human Services (DHS), Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that former foster youth sometimes do not make an immediate decision to attend college, or do not know that they may apply for board allowances. Additionally, the average time needed to obtain a bachelor's degree is five and one-half years. This measure will allow more flexibility to former foster youth who want to further pursue their education. Furthermore, DHS stated that the higher education program is funded entirely by state funds for all foster youth from ages 18 to 22.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 357, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 357, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.