STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2058

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2584

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2584 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Expand the existing tuition assistance program to qualified Hawaii National Guard members to include students working toward any degree at the University of Hawaii, with priority given to students working toward their undergraduate degrees; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to provide tuition assistance to students who are members of the Hawaii National Guard.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Adjutant General and University of Hawai‘i System.

     Your Committees find that all states offer some form of tuition assistance to members of the National Guard who pursue a college degree.  Of the fifty states, approximately half of the states offer up to one hundred percent tuition assistance at in-state or state-supported colleges or universities.

     Your Committees are intent on providing National Guard members with the opportunity to improve themselves and their community, as National Guard members have provided outstanding service to the State and country.  Your Committees note that this measure serves as a valuable recruiting tool and an incentive for highly trained members to remain in the National Guard.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2584 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair