HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1291

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 304A-504, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Appropriations for the state scholars program shall be deposited into the [[]University of Hawaii scholarship and assistance special fund[]] established pursuant to section [[]304A‑2159[]].  The number of scholarships awarded and amount of each scholarship shall be determined by the university subject to the availability of funds.

     The University of Hawaii shall offer scholarships to pay for educational costs, such as tuition, fees, books, housing, and other educational costs; provided that the scholarship applicant:

     (1)  Is a bona fide resident of the State, for tuition purposes, at the time of admission to the university;

     (2)  Presents evidence of academic excellence by meeting one or more of the following:

          (A)  Graduation from a public or private high school in the State as a valedictorian of the applicant's class;

          (B)  Has a cumulative high school grade point average of 4.0 as determined for admission to the university; [or]

          (C)  Has achieved a test score on a standardized college admission test recognized and accepted by the university for admission consideration, such as SAT or ACT, that places the student among the top ten percentile of students taking the test nationwide; or

          (D)  Graduation from a public high school in the State with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 as determined for admission to the university if the student qualified for and received special education services for two or more years during enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve;

     (3)  Enrolls at a University of Hawaii system campus within eighteen months of graduating from high school; and

     (4)  Maintains satisfactory progress toward degree completion and a cumulative 3.0 grade point average."

     SECTION 2.  Section 304A-506, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§304A-506[]]  Hawaii community college promise program; established.  (a)  Notwithstanding section 304A-501, there is established the Hawaii community college promise program to be administered by the board of regents.  The program shall provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students enrolled at any community college campus of the University of Hawaii.

     (b)  A student enrolled at a community college campus shall be eligible for scholarship consideration for a maximum of eight semesters if the student:

     (1)  Qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition;

     (2)  Completes and submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for each academic year and accepts all federal and state aid, grants, scholarships, and other funding sources that do not require repayment;

     (3)  Is enrolled in a classified degree or certificate program with six or more credits per semester;

     (4)  Maintains satisfactory academic progress, as defined by federal requirements established pursuant to Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and determined by the campus at which the student is enrolled; and

     (5)  Has been determined by the campus to have unmet direct cost needs.

     (c)  Notwithstanding subsection (b), a student enrolled at a community college campus shall also be eligible for scholarship consideration for a maximum of eight semesters if the student graduated from a public high school in the State with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 as determined for admission to the community college and if the student qualified for and received special education services for two or more years during enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve.

     [(c)] (d)  Scholarships shall be awarded to the extent possible based on available funds and on a greatest need basis.  An award granted to a student shall be equal to the student's unmet direct cost need, based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid calculation of need, less the amounts available to the student from Pell grants and other scholarships.

     [(d)] (e)  [To] For a student who qualifies for a scholarship pursuant to subsection (b), to maintain a scholarship under this section, [a] the student shall meet the requirements of subsection (b)(4).

     [(e)] (f)  As used in this section, "direct cost" means any cost directly related to a student's education, including tuition; educational fees; and the costs of books, supplies, and transportation between the student's dwelling and the student's campus."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

 

Report Title:

Scholarships; Special Education Students; University of Hawaii; State Scholars Program; Hawaii Community College Promise Program

 

Description:

Allows applicants for the University of Hawaii and 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 state scholars program and the Hawaii community college promise program, respectively.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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