STAND. COM. REP. NO. 913

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1442

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1442, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD ALLOWANCE FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the opportunity for former foster youth to pursue and complete post-secondary education.

 

Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Increases the length of time for former foster youth to apply for a higher education board allowance; and

 

     (2)  Increases the maximum age for the benefit from twenty-one years of age to twenty-six years of age and increases the maximum benefit period from forty-eight to sixty months.

 

     The Department of Human Services and the Hawaii Family Forum submitted comments in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will enable more youth to take advantage of this benefit and complete a higher education.  The results include an increase in employability and the ability to be a self-sufficient, contributing member of our community.

 

 

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the amount appropriated to an unspecified sum to facilitate further discussion on this measure; and

 

(2)  Making a technical nonsubstantive change for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1442, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1442, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair