STAND. COM. REP. NO. 415

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1490

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1490 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RELIEF FUNDING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund to allow the Board of Regents to provide student aid in direct response to an emergency or disaster, as declared by the Governor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System and University of Hawaiʻi Student Caucus.

Your Committee finds that each University of Hawaii campus has institutional funds available for students facing emergencies and crises. However, these funds are noted on students' accounts, which can lead to the reduction or reversal of previously awarded scholarships or other forms of financial aid and leave students feeling penalized for receiving relief funds. This measure will help provide students with support during a time of crisis and thus help increase retention and student success.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 1490, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1490, S.D. 1, 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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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair