STAND. COM. REP. NO.  889

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 767

      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. 767, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RUNNING START PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE PREPARATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage students of underrepresented populations to attend college by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Education (DOE) to provide students who participate in the Running Start Program (Program) with guidance in earning credit toward high school graduation upon the satisfactory completion of certain University of Hawaii (UH) courses; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for scholarships for students who are members of underrepresented populations in higher education to participate in the Program.

GEAR UP Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  DOE and the Hawaii P-20 Initiative supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that UH, rather than DOE, will provide the scholarships;

(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. 767, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 767, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair