STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1159-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2246

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2246, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg 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 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, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Children's Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., Hawaii Foster Parent Association, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Foster Family Programs of Hawaii, Hale Kipa, Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committees note that DHS is not requesting additional funding to implement this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2246, S.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Higher Education,

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair