STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1590

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 243

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 243, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WESTERN INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help improve the return rates of Hawaii residents who receive state support to study in certain professional programs that are not provided in the State through the University of Hawaii system by providing the Hawaii Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) with the authority to establish a repayment policy for students who receive support through the WICHE Professional Student Exchange Program.  This bill also more clearly delineates the Hawaii WICHE and establishes a special fund to facilitate the repayment program.

     The Department of Budget and Finance and WICHE Commissioners provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 243, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 243, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair