STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 390

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 390 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the Hawaii Promise Program to provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified undergraduate students enrolled at a four-year campus of the University of Hawaii; and

(2) Provide an appropriation to establish and implement the expanded program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Promise Program, currently only available at community colleges in the State, has increased student success in their chosen areas of study. Expanding the program to undergraduate students enrolled at a four-year campus of the University of Hawaii will enhance the ability for Hawaii Promise community college students to transfer to a four-year program, assist students pursuing their bachelor's degree, and expand access to economic opportunity for Hawaii's students.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that eligibility for scholarship consideration does not require a student enrolled in a certificate program to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid application each academic year;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 390, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 390, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair