STAND. COM. REP. NO. 566

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 51

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 51 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EDUCATION OF FOSTER YOUTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to change the method for calculating a former foster child's eligibility to receive higher education board allowances while attending college from a maximum age to a maximum time period, and to prohibit the use of federal funds to pay the allowance if the former foster child is twenty-one years or older.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Youth Services Network, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and Hale 'Opio Kaua'i Inc. Your Committees also received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that many children living in foster care have difficulties adjusting to new schools and graduating from high school. Upon emancipation, these children may not recognize the benefits of additional educational or vocational support and so do not immediately seek transition services. Your Committees find that, by changing the criteria for determining eligibility from a maximum age to a maximum time period, this measure will include children who put off seeking transitional support services. Without higher education, former foster children face a bleak future because they often lack the skills to obtain a living wage. Your Committees believe that this measure will work in conjunction with other services designed to help former foster children transition to self-sufficiency and become thriving, successful adults.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 51 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Higher Education,

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CLAYTON HEE, Chair

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SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair