STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3194

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2165

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2165, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the University of Hawai‘i promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students enrolled at any University of Hawai‘i campus, including community college campuses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Education, Kamehameha Schools, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, University of Hawai‘i Alumni Association, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that an educated labor force and engaged citizenry are essential in today's global, knowledge-based economy. Across the nation, states have set ambitious goals to boost college completion rates. The University of Hawaii's graduation initiative is a system-wide strategic initiative endorsed by the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents with a goal to increase the educational capital of the State by increasing participation in, and completion of, college by students, particularly Native Hawaiians, low-income students, and those from underserved regions and populations, and preparing them for success in the workforce and their communities.

Your Committee further finds that despite Hawaii's overall high affordability ranking, attending college is a large expense for families earning less than $30,000 annually and, historically, the State provides minimal need‑based aid to students attending public institutions. However, monies allocated for the University of Hawaii's community college promise program in the 2017 state budget helped provide scholarship opportunities to one thousand community college students. This success demonstrates that the permanent establishment of the program is further warranted at all University of Hawai‘i campuses.

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. 2165, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair