STAND. COM. REP. NO.  293

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 158

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 158, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist members of the National Guard with higher education expenses by expanding the scope of the Hawaii National Guard's tuition assistance program by including members with officer ranks O-4 and O-5 and authorizing tuition assistance for students working toward a graduate degree.  This measure also provides priority consideration for those students working toward an associate or undergraduate degree.

The University of Hawaii System supported this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Providing priority consideration for tuition assistance to enlisted soldiers and warrant officers; 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 Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 158, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 158, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair