CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 61-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2008

RE:    H.B. No. 1356

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1356, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

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

     (1)  Amending the definition of "former foster youth";

     (2)  Increasing to 21 years of age the time allowed for a former foster youth to submit an application for a higher education board allowance;

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

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

     (5)  Providing that the maximum benefit length is 60 months; and

     (6)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds to provide the higher education board allowances.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Updating the dates by which a former foster youth already attending an institution of higher education may apply for a higher education board allowance;

     (2)  Removing the appropriation section and inserting a provision that higher education board allowances be provided subject to the availability of state and federal funds;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2008; and

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

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair	____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Co-Chair
____________________________ SHAN S. TSUTSUI, Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair