STAND. COM. REP. NO.  822-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3072

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 3072, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help Hawaii meet the challenges of a global economy by improving access to, and the quality of, higher education.  Specifically, this bill expands the State Post-Secondary Education Commission and makes other improvements that include:

     (1)  Renaming it the Hawaii Higher Education Commission (Commission);

     (2)  Placing the Commission with the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for administrative purposes;

     (3)  Removing the members of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii (UH) and broadening the Commission's membership to include representatives of public and private institutions of higher education, government, and business;

     (4)  Providing for the initial appointment and election of the Commission's chair;

     (5)  Allowing for the Commission to receive funds from other sources to carry out its mandated functions;

     (6)  Requiring the Commission to propose and manage a program to provide incentives for individuals wishing to obtain higher education;

     (7)  Authorizing the Commission to review and recommend policies that increase the rate of students pursuing post-secondary education; and

     (8)  Specifying that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is to assist in the Commission's efforts.

     The Department of Education and DBEDT testified in support of this bill.  UH commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3072, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair