STAND. COM. REP. NO.  84

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 657

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 657 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support veterans by establishing a scholarship program at the University of Hawaii for veterans and their children.

     The Office of Veterans Services and University of Hawaii supported the intent of this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Restricting scholarships to University of Hawaii students, to address the measure's fiscal impact;

(2)  Simplifying the identification of those veterans eligible for the program; and

(3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 657, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 657, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair