STAND. COM. REP. NO.  327-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 1997

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1997, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage sustainable economic growth in the State by establishing the Higher Education Export Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to promote higher education in the State as an export service.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The University of Hawaii System supported the intent of this measure.  A concerned individual provided comments.

     Your Committees note concerns regarding the cost implications of establishing and maintaining the Higher Education Export Commission and respectfully request the Committee on Finance to consider such implications should this measure move forward.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1997, H.D. 1, 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 Higher Education and International Affairs,

____________________________ KAREN L. AWANA, Chair

____________________________ SCOTT NISHIMOTO, Chair