STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1494

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1151

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1151, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to exempt University of Hawaii Community College students who are enrolled in certificate programs from the requirement to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year to be considered eligible for the Hawaii Community College Promise Program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the requirement of completing the FAFSA to be considered eligible for the Hawaii Community College Promise Program scholarship may be a barrier for some students interested in pursuing a certificate program at the University of Hawaii Community Colleges, including students with developmental disabilities.  Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Community College Promise Program is an important tool directly benefiting Hawaii's families who are otherwise least able to afford higher education.

 

     According to the University of Hawaii System, it is committed to creating an application form for students exempted from completing the FAFSA and using the Hawaii Community College Promise Program scholarship to cover full direct costs, as there would otherwise be no vehicle to determine unmet need.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that, because certificate program students will not be completing a FAFSA, the unmet direct cost need for certificate program students will be based on another suitable instrument;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1151, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1151, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair