HB767 CD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	767
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE RUNNING START PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE PREPARATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Students and families of underrepresented populations in higher education are often discouraged by the perceived costs of college attendance. Scholarships embedded in a program of college preparation and support can be an effective motivating factor for these students to pursue and attend college.

High school students often want to enroll in classes other than those on the currently-approved department of education list. These students should be allowed and, in fact, encouraged to take university courses at the one-hundred level and above and have those classes qualify as credit toward high school graduation. The running start program, a joint program of the department of education and the University of Hawaii that was created pursuant to section 302A-401, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is helpful in preparing students of underrepresented populations for college entry. Earning dual credit for both high school and college can provide motivation and preparation that enhances these students' opportunities to attend college.

Experience with the running start program has shown that students in underrepresented populations may not be participating in the program because of financial difficulty. Experience has also shown that there has been some confusion about obtaining dual credit for courses completed at the University of Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the department of education to provide students who participate in the running start program with guidance in earning credit toward high school graduation for successful completion of one-hundred level and above University of Hawaii courses; and

(2) Increase financial support for the families of low-income and underrepresented students.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A‑ Running start credits. The department shall provide students who participate in the running start program with guidance in earning credit toward high school graduation upon the satisfactory completion of University of Hawaii courses at the one-hundred level and above pursuant to section 302A-401."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to be deposited into the University of Hawaii scholarship and assistance special fund.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the University of Hawaii scholarship and assistance special fund the sum of $50,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to provide scholarships to students who are members of underrepresented populations in higher education, as determined by the University of Hawaii, to participate in the running start program.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon approval; provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.