STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2893

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2639

       H.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2639, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the University of Hawaii college-credit equivalency program to award academic credits for professional experience gained in the United States Armed Forces; and

     (2)  Require the University of Hawaii to develop an associated learning assessment to determine college-level learning gained during such experience.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges, Department of Defense State Liaison Office, Oahu Veterans Center, and one individual. 

     Your Committees find that members of the United States Armed Forces gain professional experience that may translate to educational experience learned in an academic setting.  This measure will require the University of Hawaii System to develop a method to award college credit for certain professional experiences gained in the United States Armed Forces.  Your Committees further find that this measure will help transitioning service members earn college credit so they can more quickly enter the work force.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2639, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair