HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2633

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to access to education.

 

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that every year, there are a number of students who attend the Leeward community college Waianae Moku education center who are ineligible for federal financial aid because they are unable to access their parents' tax information, which is necessary to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  Under the requirements of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, students up to the age of twenty-four need to report the information in their parents' tax records in order to apply for federal financial assistance.

     The legislature further finds that many of these students who are twenty-four years old or younger report that their parents are incarcerated or homeless or that they have no communication with their parents for various other reasons.  As a result, a significant number of these students are ineligible for federal financial aid and are often forced to drop out of college.  These students can end up with an outstanding balance on their student accounts, which prevents them from continuing their education or causes them to take out loans, which often wind up in the collections process.  Furthermore, being in arrears regarding tuition poses a barrier to these students' eligibility for financial aid in the future.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to Leeward community college Waianae Moku to support and assist students who are twenty-four years old or younger and ineligible to apply for federal financial assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid application because they are unable to access their parents' tax information.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  Leeward community college Waianae Moku shall establish a program to support and assist students who are twenty-four years old or younger and ineligible to apply for federal financial assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid application because they are unable to access their parents' tax information.

     (b)  To the extent practicable, Leeward community college Waianae Moku shall model the program established in subsection (a) after the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 United States Code sections 11431, et seq.

     (c)  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025, Leeward community college Waianae Moku shall submit a report to the legislature concerning the program established in subsection (a), including:

     (1)  The number of students supported and assisted; and

     (2)  The amount of financial aid received by each student; provided that no personally identifiable information shall be included.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for Leeward community college Waianae Moku to support and assist students who are ineligible to apply for federal financial assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid application because they are unable to access their parents' tax information.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No.     , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $           or      per cent.  In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $           or      per cent.  The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $           or      per cent.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

Leeward Community College Waianae Moku; Students Ineligible for Federal Financial Aid; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to Leeward community college Waianae Moku to support and assist students who are twenty-four years old or younger and ineligible to apply for federal financial assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid application because they are unable to access their parents' tax information.

 

 

 

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