STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1115

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 767

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 767, H.D. 2, 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 measure is to increase the financial support provided to families of underrepresented college student populations by the Running Start Program and ensure participating students earn credit toward their high school and college degrees upon successful completion of qualifying University of Hawaii courses.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and GEAR UP Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the Running Start Program is a joint program of the University of Hawaii and the Department of Education.  The program helps to prepare high school students of underrepresented populations for college entry by allowing eligible high school students to enroll in qualified university courses and earn credits for high school graduation and college simultaneously.  Your Committee further finds that the Running Start program provides many students with the motivation, preparation, and opportunity to explore and pursue post-secondary education, which would otherwise be unavailable or unaffordable. 

     Since its establishment in 2002, the Running Start Program has provided scholarships totaling $260,000 to eight hundred fifty low-income students in Hawaii and anticipates providing approximately 140 new scholarships each year.  Your Committee believes that additional funding in the amount of $50,000 each year is necessary to allow the Running Start Program to keep pace with increased participation in the program and interest in college entry.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the appropriation of funds is intended to increase support for the families of low-income and underrepresented students;

     (2)  Clarifying that the Department of Education shall provide guidance and credit toward high school graduation for the successful completion of one-hundred level University of Hawaii courses; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 767, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 767, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair