STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1351

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 813

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 813, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM PLUS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish the University of Hawaii promise program plus to provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students who are graduates of a University of Hawaii community college who received a Hawaii community college promise program scholarship and are currently enrolled at any University of Hawaii campus; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds to establish and implement the program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Department of Education, University of Hawaii Alumni Association, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the first cohort of students from community colleges who received scholarships from the Hawaii community college promise program are scheduled to graduate in 2019 with Associate's degrees.  Some students will be poised to enter the University of Hawaii System to obtain a Bachelor's degree, yet lack the financial resources to do so.  Additionally, students and graduates of the Hawaii community college promise program who do not yet have a definite career goal but are pursuing further education should be strongly encouraged to pursue careers where personnel shortages currently exist or are projected to exist in the near future.  This measure extends the promise program for this cohort of students, leading to stronger educational outcomes and improved quality of life for participating students, and encourages students to pursue careers in fields that strengthen Hawaii's current and future economy.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 H.B. No. 813, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 813, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair