STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3190

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 184

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 184 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I TO REPORT ON HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to report on Higher Education Student Financial Assistance Commissions in other states.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committee finds that the State, in the present as well as the future, requires a highly-qualified and trained workforce to meet the changing demands of State and the world.  The cost of postsecondary education is a huge burden and often a complete barrier for many.  Efforts to increase access to education and training are necessary to ensure a qualified workforce.  Currently, the Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Commission has a limited scope of serving as a vehicle for receiving federal funds.  However, in other jurisdictions, similar entities, state higher education financial assistance commissions, work to improve student access to pursue higher education and state educational capital.  This measure requests the University of Hawaii to study higher education student financial assistance commissions of other states and report to the Legislature to determine the appropriate structure for Hawaii to follow.  Your Committee determines that this study is necessary to increase access to higher education and will ultimately benefit the State as a whole.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 184 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair