STAND. COM. REP. NO. 276

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 200

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 200 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii to fund one or more programs sponsored or organized by a University of Hawaii community college or a four-year campus to expand opportunities for international college experiences for students; and

(2) Require the University of Hawaii to work in collaboration with the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committees find that there have been initiatives within the University of Hawaii System to provide students with educational and cultural experiences to visit the Asia-Pacific region. With a local population largely made of descendants of plantation workers and immigrants from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region, Hawaii's residents should take advantage of these cultural and historic ties for the potential economic benefit of the State. This measure allows students to become more familiar with these nations and this region and further exposes Hawaii students to enhanced economic and cultural opportunities.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 200 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair