STAND. COM. REP. NO.  904

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1356

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1356, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD ALLOWANCE FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to expand post-secondary education opportunities for former foster youth by:

     (1)  Increasing to 21 years of age, the time limit for an application for a higher education board allowance;

     (2)  Providing former foster youth who are between the ages of 22 and 26 years of age on July 1, 2007, and who are already attending a higher education institution, the opportunity to apply for a higher education board allowance within a year;

     (3)  Increasing from 21 to 26 years of age, the maximum age for the benefit;

     (4)  Extending to 60 months, the maximum benefit length; and

     (5)  Appropriating $287,247 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and $349,140 in fiscal year 2008-2009 to provide higher education board allowances for eligible former foster youth.

     The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Child Welfare Services Advisory Council, Kapiolani Child Protection Center, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amounts to an unspecified amount to encourage further discussion;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1356, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1356, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair