HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2172
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the university of Hawaii.

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

SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the payment of student athletic fees at the tertiary-education level should be voluntary, not mandatory.  Many colleges and universities throughout the nation avail themselves of a variety of financial resources beyond their campuses to fund their athletic programs and do not place such financial burdens on their students, many of whom are not interested in participating in or attending any form of athletic competition.

On July 15, 2010, the board of regents of the University of Hawaii approved a student athletic fee of $50 per semester that became effective in spring 2011 for students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  There is currently a proposal before the board of regents to double the student athletic fee to $100 per semester as a means to help pay for the athletic department's anticipated financial shortfall in 2016.  However, institutions of higher education exist to educate their students, and athletic programs should cover their own costs.

The legislature finds that this issue is a matter of statewide concern that falls under its purview pursuant to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

The purpose of this Act is to prohibit the University of Hawaii board of regents from charging student athletic fees.

     SECTION 2.  Section 304A-401, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§304A-401[]]  Tuition fees; resident, nonresident; other fees.  (a)  The board of regents may charge resident and nonresident tuition fees for regular courses of instruction at any University of Hawaii campus, including any community college.

     (b)  The board may also charge other fees for special programs of instruction, as well as laboratory fees, course fees, fees for student activities, and an information technology user fee.  The board may charge other fees for summer session or evening courses, including differential fees for nonresident students.

(c)  Notwithstanding subsection (b) to the contrary, the board shall not charge student athletic fees."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Student Athletic Fees

Description:

Prohibits the University of Hawaii Board of Regents from charging student athletic fees.

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