STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1117-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2131

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2131, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to help expand veterans' access to higher education and provide them with the same opportunity that Hawaii residents have regarding the University of Hawaii's wealth of educational resources by requiring the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to waive the nonresident tuition and fee differential for veterans of the United States armed forces who were honorably discharged, regardless of their actual state of residence.

The Office of Veterans' Services, Department of Defense State Liaison Office, National Association for Uniformed Services – Hawaii Chapter, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Veterans of Foreign Wars – Department of Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance of Student Veterans, Hawaii Alliance of Student Veterans – University of Hawaii Leeward Community College Chapter, Young Democrats of Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals supported the bill.  The University of Hawaii Student Caucus and a concerned individual supported the intent of the measure.  The University of Hawaii and Department of the Attorney General provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended the bill by:

     (1)  Adding a finding and declaration by the Legislature that the issue covered in this bill is a matter of statewide concern and thus under the Legislature's purview pursuant to Article X, Section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution;

     (2)  Specifying that in order to qualify for a waiver of the nonresident tuition and fee differential for honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces, such veterans must:

          (A)  Have left the armed forces no more than two years prior; and

          (B)  Sign an intent form to become a resident of Hawaii;

     (3)  Adding a definition for "G.I. Bill education benefits";

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2525, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (5)  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 S.B. No. 2131, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2131, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair