STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2595

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2584

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2584 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TUITION ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to broaden the accessibility to the State's tuition assistance program for National Guard members.

     Specifically, the measure:

(1)  Makes the existing tuition assistance program available to all Hawaii National Guard members;

(2)  Prioritizes funds to Hawaii National Guard member-students working toward an undergraduate degree; and

(3)  Appropriates funds for the tuition assistance program.

     Your Committee finds that tuition assistance should not be limited to only selected members of the Hawaii National Guard, but should be made available to all Hawaii National Guard members to allow them to continue their education and prepare them to enter the workforce.  Expanded tuition assistance will also benefit the Hawaii National Guard's recruitment and retention efforts.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the amount of the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2584, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2584, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair