STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3268

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 116

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 116 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW GRADUATES TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS IN HAWAII THAT DIRECTLY SERVE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission to convene a working group to develop an educational loan repayment program for William S. Richardson School of Law graduates to expand opportunities to pursue public interest careers in Hawaii for the benefit of underserved communities.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law; Hawaii Access to Justice Commission; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; Community Alliance on Prisons; and Students for Public Outreach and Civic Education - Richardson School of Law.

     Your Committee finds that there is strong interest in the practice of public interest law among Hawaii lawyers, including students of the William S. Richardson School of Law.  However, Hawaii's high cost of living makes it difficult for many Hawaii lawyers to endure the low compensation of public interest law careers.  Your Committee further finds that an educational loan repayment program would encourage more graduates to remain in the islands and practice public interest law and reaffirm the State's commitment to ensure equal access to its courts.  Your Committee believes that this measure will initiate activities to attract more lawyers to engage in public interest work and reduce the financial burdens of choosing a career in public interest law.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 116 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair