STAND. COM. REP. NO. 205-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 426

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred H.B. No. 426 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TUITION WAIVERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii System and its community colleges to waive tuition for the dependent children of disabled veterans, active or reserve members of the armed forces who were killed in action, and Purple Heart medal recipients awarded in 2001 or later, subject to certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Military Affairs Council and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and State Office of Veterans' Services.

Your Committee recognizes that many states offer veterans' benefits that enable qualifying resident children and spouses to attend public post-secondary educational institutions tuition-free. This measure will align Hawaii with those states in support of service members' dependents when those members are disabled, killed in action, or awarded a Purple Heart medal.

Your Committee finds that this measure seeks to offset some of the financial and personal hardships that may pertain to a dependent child of such a service member and which hardships should not deprive the child from pursuing a post-secondary education if the child so chooses. Your Committee further finds that the tuition waiver recognizes the sacrifice paid by the service member and is a means of preserving the service member's legacy.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As this measure proceeds through the legislative process, your Committee requests that questions of eligibility relating to financial need and age limit of a qualified student be addressed, as well as whether a limit to the type of degree that may be pursued is appropriate.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 426, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 426, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair