[§302L-9]  Hawaii early childhood educator stipend program.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii early childhood educator stipend program to be administered by the office to address the shortage of early childhood educators who have coursework in early childhood education.

     (b)  An individual shall be eligible for stipend consideration if the individual:

     (1)  Is enrolled at a University of Hawaii campus or in a University of Hawaii program and qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition; and

     (2)  Is enrolled in a certificate, degree, or license program in early childhood education, including those in the Hawaiian language medium, which includes courses required for the respective program of study, within the University of Hawaii system.

     (c)  Immediately following completion of a certificate, degree, or license program pursuant to subsection (b), stipend recipients shall provide early care and education services directly to children from birth through five years of age for at least two consecutive years in one of the early learning systems described in section 302L-2, including Hawaiian language medium and Hawaiian immersion settings and early learning settings at charter schools.

     (d)  If the recipient fails to complete a certificate, degree, or license program pursuant to subsection (b), or to satisfy the work requirements of subsection (c), stipend funds shall be repaid as follows:

     (1)  For each year less than the designated number of years that a stipend recipient does not meet the work requirements of subsection (c), the recipient shall repay a proportionate percentage of the total stipend funds received; and

     (2)  The repayment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set by the office for stipend repayment, including circumstances under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to hardship or inability to secure employment, as well as potential for fees for the collection of delinquent repayment.

     (e)  Stipend funds repaid by a stipend recipient pursuant to subsection (d) shall be deposited into Hawaii early childhood educator special fund established pursuant to section 302L-10.

     (f)  The office may accept federal funds to support the Hawaii early childhood educator stipend program.

     (g)  In accordance with chapter 103D, the office may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent repayment of stipends owed to the office pursuant to subsection (d).  A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the office to collect delinquent stipend repayments pursuant to this section may collect a fee from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract.

     (h)  The office may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement and administer the stipend program, including the terms of repayment pursuant to subsection (d). [L 2021, c 210, pt of §2]