STAND. COM. REP. NO.  630-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1613

      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. 1613 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand access to higher education for the people of Hawaii by:

     (1)  Requiring the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to waive the community college tuition of Hawaii residents who meet certain criteria; and

     (2)  Implementing the community college tuition waiver through a pilot program in any county with a population of less than 100,000.

The Hawaii Public Health Association and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  Faith Action for Community Equity supported the measure with amendments.  The University of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a purpose section;

     (2)  Defining "eligible non-citizen";

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2525, to facilitate further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee notes that $2,600,000 was estimated as the amount that would be needed to implement the pilot program in a county with a resident population of less than 100,000.

     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. 1613, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1613, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair