STAND. COM. REP. NO. 508

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 945

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 945 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AUTHORIZATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a framework for authorizing post-secondary degree-granting educational institutions that have applied for accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that students will benefit if the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has the authority to oversee accreditation-seeking institutions and ensure the institutions are making satisfactory progress toward accreditation.  Your Committee further finds that most states across the country issue some type of temporary authorization or approval to institutions that are in the process of applying for accreditation.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of May 12, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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 S.B. No. 945, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 945, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair