STAND. COM. REP. NO.  619-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1886

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1886 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SENIOR CITIZENS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to help promote the mental health of senior citizens by establishing a five-year senior citizen higher education access pilot program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

 

     Three concerned individuals supported the measure.  The University of Hawaii at Hilo supported the intent of the measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a statewide, systemwide five-year senior citizen higher education access pilot program at the University of Hawaii;

 

     (2)  Providing that the pilot program must be established pursuant to rules and procedures adopted by the Board of Regents;

 

     (3)  Providing that the University of Hawaii must determine which classes will be offered as part of the pilot program;

 

     (4)  Allowing, rather than requiring, the pilot program to begin in the fall of 2019;

 

     (5)  Making an appropriation in an unspecified amount;

 

     (6)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     Your Committee recognizes the authority of the Board of Regents under Part II of Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to determine tuition rates.

 

     While the original measure confined the pilot program to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, your Committee notes that according to testimony, many of the other campuses, including the community colleges, have started to initiate programs similar to the one in this measure on an ad hoc basis.  As such, your Committee feels by expanding the pilot program to be statewide across all campuses, it will complement and coordinate such ongoing efforts and resources and help to avoid any duplication of efforts.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance choose to deliberate further on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that the sum of $500,000, as requested by the University of Hawaii, be appropriated.

 

     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. 1886, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1886, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair