STAND. COM. REP. NO.  370

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1591

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1591 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the educational capital of the State by:

     (1)  Establishing the Hawaii Promise Program to provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students enrolled at any University of Hawaii community college; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for the establishment and implementation of the Program.

The University of Hawai‘i, KAI Hawaii, Inc., UH Alumni Association, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  One individual testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; 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. 1591, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1591, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair