STAND. COM. REP. NO.  456

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1291

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1291 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Allow applicants who graduated from a public high school in the State with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and qualified for and received special education services for two or more years during enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve to be eligible for the Hawaii State Scholars Program;

 

     (2)  Allow students enrolled at a community college campus who graduated from a public high school in the State with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and qualified for and received special education services for two or more years during enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve to be eligible for the Hawaii Community College Promise Program; and

 

     (3)  Require ten percent of available funds for the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to be dedicated for the aforementioned qualifying students.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and seventeen individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the University of Hawaii System.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that there is a massive achievement gap between students in regular education and special education in public schools.  Your Committees further find that to drive excellence and prepare our students to be college, career, and world ready, allocating scholarship funds to targeted students would ensure students with special needs have access to post high school education and the possibility of a better personal and profession life in the State.  Your Committees believe that this measure will expand the opportunities available to enhance the lives of students with special needs.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the provision requiring ten percent of available funds for the Hawaii Community College Promise Program be dedicated for the qualifying students who graduated from a public high school in the State with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and qualified for and received special education services for two or more years during enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1291, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1291, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Higher Education & Technology,

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair