STAND. COM. REP. NO. 321

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1969

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1969 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TUITION ASSISTANCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to broaden the scope of the law that provides tuition assistance to members of the Hawaii National Guard who are students working toward a degree on any campus in the University of Hawaii system. 

     This measure appropriates funds in the amount of $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008.

     Testimony was submitted in support of this measure by the Department of Defense, the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association, the National Guard Association of Hawaii Insurance Trust, and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that upon returning from deployment, many National Guard members enroll in undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Hawaii.  It is important to provide tuition assistance and support to members of the Hawaii National Guard who seek to further their education at the University of Hawaii.  This financial support shows support and commitment to our National Guard members for their continued sacrifice and service to our nation, while simultaneously acting as an important recruitment and retention tool.

     Your Committees amended this measure by changing the fiscal year for which the funds are being appropriated and the effective date of the measure from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008, in order to allow the University of Hawaii and the Department of Defense adequate time to consider the federal tuition guidelines before the enactment of this measure.  This measure was further amended by making technical changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

     The intent of your Committees is to provide tuition assistance and support to members of the Hawaii National Guard who seek to further their education at the University of Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1969, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1969, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Education,

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair