STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1008

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1079

       H.D. 2

 

 

 

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 H.B. No. 1079, H.D. 2, 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.

 

     Your Committee finds that it is beneficial to students to authorize the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to oversee accreditation-seeking institutions and ensure that the institutions are making acceptable progress toward accreditation.  Your Committee further finds that, nationwide, most states issue some type of temporary authorization or approval to institutions that are in the process of applying for accreditation.  Finally, your Committee finds that it is beneficial to allow the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to grant temporary waivers of the accreditation requirement when necessary for good cause and the protection of students facing imminent financial hardship.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1079, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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,

 

 

 

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KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair