STAND. COM. REP. NO.  9-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2043

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2043 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 bill is to expand post-secondary education opportunities for former foster youth by:

 

     (1)  Increasing to 21 years of age, the time limit for an application for a higher education board allowance;

 

     (2)  Providing former foster youth who are between the ages of 22 and 26 years of age on July 1, 2008, and who are already attending or have been accepted to attend a higher education institution, the opportunity to apply for a higher education board allowance within a year;

 

     (3)  Extending the maximum benefit length to 66 months following entry into an accredited institution of higher education; and

 

     (4)  Appropriating funds to provide higher education board allowances for eligible former foster youth.


 

     The Hawaii Family Forum, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Family Support Institute, Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition, Hawaii Foster Parent Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services and Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Increasing the age of eligibility for higher education board allowances from 21 to 26 years;

 

     (2)  Changing the length of the benefit to 60 cumulative months;

 

     (3)  Removing the appropriation sections; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2043, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2043, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair