STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2992

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 3398

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 3398, H.D. 3, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii System to provide Philippine language and Filipino-American studies courses throughout the system.

 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Interpreter Action Network; the National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region XII; the Filipino American Citizens League; the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; the Oahu Filipino Community Council; the Philippine Nurses Association-Hawaii; the Congress of Visayan Organizations; Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc.; United Filipino Council of Hawaii; and ten individuals.  Testimony in opposition of the measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii System and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that since their initial immigration, the Filipino community has grown and continues to be prevalent in Hawaii.  However, despite their significant representation in the general population, including in our public schools, Filipinos are largely underrepresented in higher education, representing a small percentage of enrollment in the University of Hawaii System and a small percentage of individuals possessing postsecondary degrees.  Given their significance in Hawaii's demographic composition, the Filipino community must be supported to increase the representation of Filipino students and professionals trained in the Philippine languages and cultures who can work in the area of education, health, legal services, and commerce.  This measure appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii System to provide courses in the Philippine languages and cultures to help to increase academic interest and student success.  Your Committee determines that increasing educational opportunities for higher education in the Philippine languages and cultures is necessary and appropriate to the University of Hawaii's mission and fulfilling the needs and responsibilities of the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying the amount of $250,000 to be appropriated to the University of Hawaii campuses as follows:

 

          (A)  $50,000 for the University of Hawaii at Hilo;

 

          (B)  $75,000 for Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Kapiolani, Leeward, Maui, and Windward Community Colleges;

 

          (C)  $50,000 for the University of Hawaii West Oahu; and

 

          (D)  $75,000 for the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2008.

 

     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 H.B. No. 3398, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3398, H.D. 3, 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