STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1493

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1969

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1969, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide increased educational opportunities for Hawaii National Guard members by:

(1)  Broadening the scope of the tuition assistance provided to Hawaii National Guard members attending the University of Hawaii; and

(2)  Appropriating funds to support this initiative.

     The Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association, Hawaii National Guard Association, National Guard Association of Hawaii Insurance Trust, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Defense and University of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Specifying that students pursuing an undergraduate degree will receive first consideration for tuition funding; and

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2007.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1969, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1969, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

SHARON E. HAR, Acting Chair and Vice Chair