STAND. COM. REP. NO.264

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 628

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 628 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOSTER BOARD ALLOWANCES FOR STUDENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Make higher education board allowances available to former foster children; and

(2) Allow an intermediary contracted by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to be the recipient of payments of higher education board allowances.

The University of Hawaii and DHS supported this bill.

Your Committee recognizes that the inclusion of the definition "former foster youth" clarifies that higher education board allowances are available to individuals who were formerly foster children, but are no longer children, nor a part of the foster care system.

Further, payments on behalf of these individuals to another intermediary contracted by DHS will facilitate the provision of this service when payment to the foster parent or institution of higher learning is not appropriate. This measure will better serve former foster children who pursue higher education.

 

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. 628 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair