STAND. COM. REP. NO. 356-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1795

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1795 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a working group to evaluate possibilities for making community college free for Hawaii residents.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Americans for Democratic Action Hawaiʻi; and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that providing free community college to Hawaii residents would increase Hawaii's rate of college-bound students, especially for students and families who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. This measure will explore and evaluate possible ways of making community college free.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that this measure is a matter of statewide concern;

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

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1795, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1795, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair