STAND. COM. REP. 2287

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2999

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2999 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Student Scholarship and Assistance Special Fund within the University of Hawaii; and

(2) Appropriate $20,000,000 out of the Student Scholarship and Assistance Special Fund for fiscal year 2004-2005 to be used for scholarship assistance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the proposed special fund would provide a consistent place for scholarship initiatives established by the Legislature, such as specific appropriations for critical statewide issues including workforce development, key shortage areas, and financial assistance funded with university, federal, or private funds. The special fund should also facilitate comprehensive reporting of financial support for students. Although the university will continue part of its tuition waiver program, the university is considering providing more assistance to students in the form of scholarships rather than tuition waivers. This practice is consistent with common practice nationwide and will enable more families to obtain tax benefits they would otherwise not benefit from through tuition waivers.

Your Committee has amended the measure by:

(1) Adding a clause appropriating $20 million out of the general revenues and placing it in the Student Scholarship and Assistance Special Fund;

(2) Specifying that the appropriation sections shall take effect on July 1, 2004; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2999, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2999, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair