HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2719 |
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to post-secondary education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that community colleges play a vital role in meeting the State's employment needs. A well-trained and highly qualified workforce will attract employers to the State, diversify the local economy, and allow Hawaii to compete in the global market.
The purpose of this Act is to continue the State's efforts to provide free public education for students in kindergarten through community college by establishing a pilot program for community college tuition waivers.
SECTION 2. (a)
There is established a community
college tuition waiver pilot program.
(b) Beginning with the fall 2025 semester, the board of regents of the university of Hawaii shall waive the tuition of any person who is admitted to and enrolled full-time at a community college campus of the university of Hawaii that is located in a county having a population of fewer than one hundred thousand residents; provided that the person shall meet the requirements of either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) as follows:
(1) (A) Be a United States citizen or an eligible non‑citizen and:
(B) Have been a resident of the State for at least twelve months prior to applying for the waiver;
(C) Qualify for resident tuition;
(D) Be a graduate of a private or public high school located in the State;
(E) Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the community college at which the person is enrolled;
(F) Maintain continuous full-time enrollment at a community college, except for medical or personal absences approved by the community college;
(G) Be physically present in the State; and
(H) Be twenty-five years of age or younger; or
(2) (A) Complete and submit to the board of regents of the university of Hawaii a Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
(B) Have been a resident of the county for at least two years;
(C) Have attended a high school located in the
county for at least two years; and
(D) Have graduated from a high school located in
the county.
(c)
For purposes of this Act,
"eligible non-citizen" means an individual who is:
(1) A United States permanent resident who holds a permanent resident card;
(2) A conditional permanent resident of the United States; or
(3) The holder of an arrival-departure record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations:
(A) Refugee;
(B) Asylum granted;
(C) Parolee; or
(D) Cuban-Haitian Entrant.
(d) The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2026.
SECTION 3. The board of regents of the university of
Hawaii shall conduct a review of the community college tuition waiver pilot
program and submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any
proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2027;
provided that the report shall include:
(1) The cost of implementing the pilot program;
(2) The estimated cost of expanding the pilot program statewide; and
(3) A recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should be expanded statewide.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
Report Title:
UH; Community College; Tuition Waiver; Pilot Program
Description:
Establishes a pilot program to offer tuition waivers for certain community college students starting in fall 2025. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to submit a report.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.