STAND. COM. REP. NO.280

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 640

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 640 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TUITION WAIVERS FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require tuition waivers for native Hawaiian students at the University of Hawaii (UH).

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the UH, Ka Lahui Hawaii, and eight individuals. Testimony in opposition was received from one individual.

Your Committees find that this measure is consistent with the Strategic Plan of the University of Hawaii that recognizes the need "to strengthen the crucial role that the University of Hawaii system performs for the indigenous people and general population of Hawaii by actively preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, language, and values." The UH acknowledges the severe underrepresentation of native Hawaiian students and is committed to increase the representation and success of native Hawaiian students on all campuses and supports financial aid for native Hawaiians to remedy past wrongs and discrimination, particularly with regard to their special status as indigenous people.

Your Committees further find that the tuition at the UH, though reasonable by standards of comparable institutions on the mainland, could be an impediment to native Hawaiian students who must often pay for the tuition without any financial support from family or otherwise.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 640 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Education,

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NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

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COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair