STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1279

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1356

       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 Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1356, H.D. 2, 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 measure is to:

     (1)  Increase the time limit for application for a higher education board allowance to provide former foster youth who are between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-six years of age on July 1, 2007, and already attending an institution of higher education, an opportunity to apply for a higher education board allowance within a year; and

     (2)  Increase the maximum age for the benefit with a maximum benefit period of sixty months.

     The Department of Human Services, the Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, the Hawaii Youth Services Network, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, and eight individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will improve the educational prospects of former foster youth.  As noted by the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, at present there is a narrow window of opportunity for former foster youth to apply for a higher education allowance, which requires the former foster youth to have begun attending an accredited institution of higher learning within one school year after high school.  However, upon turning eighteen years of age, many former foster youth leave with a desire for freedom and without realizing what benefits may be available to them.  Increasing the time limit and the maximum age for the benefit will enable those former foster youth who did not attend an accredited institution of higher learning within one school year after high school to apply for the benefit and have a chance to become a better educated adult.

     The Department of Human Services testified that this measure, if passed, would result in a revenue loss to the State of approximately $287,247 for fiscal year 2007‑2008, and approximately $349,140 for fiscal year 2008‑2009.

     It is your Committee's intent to help former foster youth to successfully transition to independent adult status.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2007.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair