STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1483

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 767

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 767, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RUNNING START PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE PREPARATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this measure is to support the Running Start Program and provide additional opportunities for Hawaii's students to attend college.

 

Specifically, this bill requires the Department of Education to provide high school students that participate in the Running Start Program with guidance in earning credit toward graduation for successfully completing one-hundred level and above University of Hawaii courses.  Additionally, this measure appropriates moneys to provide scholarships to students from low-income and underrepresented populations to participate in the Running Start Program.

 

Comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

 

Your Committee finds that the Running Start Program is successful in helping to prepare high school students of underrepresented populations for college entry.  By allowing eligible high school students to enroll in qualified university courses and simultaneously earn credits for high school graduation, the program provides many students with the motivation, preparation, and opportunity to explore and pursue a college education that may otherwise be unavailable or unaffordable.

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 767, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 767, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair