STAND. COM. REP. NO.  219-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1531

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1531 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SERVICE LEGAL LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote greater access to the justice system by establishing the Public Service Legal Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist attorneys who provide direct legal assistance to indigent persons through a nonprofit organization in repaying their legal-education loans.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 116 Task Force, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Accounting and General Services submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a finding by the Legislature that offering assistance and support to attorneys who provide direct legal assistance to or policy advocacy on behalf of indigent persons through a nonprofit organization in Hawaii is a matter of statewide concern;

     (2)  Amending the definition of "eligible employment" to mean "those positions providing direct legal assistance to or policy advocacy on behalf of indigent persons through a nonprofit organization in Hawaii";

     (3)  Requiring participants in the Public Service Legal Loan Repayment Assistance Program to work in eligible employment for a minimum of two years;

     (4)  Changing its 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 H.B. No. 1531, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1531, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair