CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. -0 197-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 3120

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3120, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of the measure is to encourage Hawaii residents to pursue post-secondary school education by:

(1) Establishing a Workforce Development Scholarship Program (Workforce Program) within the University of Hawaii to provide scholarships for Hawaii residents enrolled at a community college campus of the university and who are eligible for need-based federal financial aid;

(2) Specifying that state funds for all scholarship programs be placed in a separate account within the Student Scholarship and Assistance Fund;

(3) Appropriating additional funds for the B Plus Scholarship Program; and

(4) Appropriating funds to establish the Workforce Program.

Your Committee finds that the increases in the university tuition and fee schedule, which take effect in the fall of 2006, will continue to make it difficult for Hawaii's residents to attend the university. Your Committee also finds that the initial appropriation of $1,500,000 for the B Plus Scholarship Program is not sufficient to enroll a significant proportion of the estimated number of eligible applicants.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure to:

(1) Amend the purpose section of the measure;

(2) Establish the Hawaii state scholars program;

(3) Transfer the sum of $500,000 from the University of Hawaii tuition and fees special fund into the student scholarship and assistance special fund, for purposes of funding the Workforce Development Scholarship Program;

(4) Change the effective date to July 1, 2006; and

(5) Make technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3120, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3120, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Co-Chair

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________

KIRK CALDWELL, Co-Chair

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

____________________________

PONO CHONG, Co-Chair