STAND. COM. REP. NO.  222-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2043

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2043, H.D. 1, 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 bill is to expand post-secondary education opportunities for former foster youth by:

     (1)  Increasing to 26 years of age, the age limit for eligibility for a higher education board allowance;

     (2)  Removing the eligibility requirement that a former foster youth attend or be accepted to attend an accredited institution of higher learning within one school year after completing high school;

     (3)  Providing former foster youth who are between the ages of 22 and 26 on July 1, 2008, and who are already attending or have been accepted to attend an accredited institution of higher learning, the opportunity to apply for a higher education board allowance within a year; and

     (4)  Extending the maximum benefit length to 60 cumulative months.

     The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Foster Parent Association, Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, Children's Alliance of Hawaii, and several former and current foster youth testified in support of this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2043, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair