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HB542
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
542
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to the university of hawaii promise program
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that the cost of
attendance remains a significant barrier for many of Hawaii's residents
pursuing higher education.
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In the 2021-2022
academic year, 5,590 students from the Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu four-year
campuses experienced a gap between the direct cost of their education and what
was provided by scholarships or grants.
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For these three universities, unmet need totaled $14,112,400.
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These students averaged a gap of $2,524.58
that could not cover the entirety of the costs associated with tuition, fees,
books, supplies, and transportation.
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In 2017, the university
of Hawaii implemented the Hawaii promise program, which provides need-based
awards intended to be applied toward the unmet need of qualified students
enrolled at any community college campus of the university of Hawaii.
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Awards are contingent upon funding.
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Amounts are determined by the individual
student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid information.
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Evidence from the early implementation of the
Hawaii promise program demonstrates that students who receive the funding earned
more credits and continued toward graduation at a higher rate than students who
did not receive the funding.
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Even though financial
aid provided by federal Pell grants, university of Hawaii and private
scholarships, the GI Bill for service members and veterans, and employers
covers much of the cost for need-based students, cost is still a barrier for
certain need-based students, especially those who do not qualify for the Hawaii
promise program because they are enrolled at one of the university of Hawaii's
four-year campuses.
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The legislature further
finds that an educated labor force and engaged citizenry are essential in today's
global, knowledge-based economy.
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Thus,
increasing the number of students who enroll and earn degrees, particularly
those from underserved regions and populations, to prepare them for success in
the workforce and their communities is a matter of statewide concern.
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However, according to the most recent data
available, only forty-eight per cent of Hawaii's working-age adults have a
postsecondary degree.
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The purpose of this Act
is to expand the Hawaii promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet
needs of qualified undergraduate students enrolled at the university of Hawaii
at Manoa, the university of Hawaii at Hilo, and the university of Hawaii-West
Oahu, and to provide an appropriation to establish and implement the expanded
program.
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SECTION
2
.
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Section 304A-506, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:
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"
�304A-506
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Hawaii [
community college
] promise program; established.
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(a)
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Notwithstanding section 304A-501, there is established the Hawaii [
community
college
] promise program to be administered by the board of regents.
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The program shall provide scholarships for
the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students enrolled at any [
community
college
] campus of the [
University
]
university
of Hawaii.
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(b)
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A student enrolled at a community college campus shall be eligible for
scholarship consideration for a maximum of eight semesters if the student:
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(1)
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Qualifies for
Hawaii resident tuition;
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(2)
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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; provided that this paragraph shall not
apply to a student who enrolls in a certificate program;
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(3)
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Is enrolled in a
classified degree or certificate program with six or more credits per semester;
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(4)
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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
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(5)
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Has been
determined by the campus to have unmet direct cost needs.
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(c)
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A student enrolled in an undergraduate
program at a university of Hawaii campus, other than a community college
campus, shall be eligible for scholarship consideration for a maximum of eight
semesters if the student:
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(1)
�
Qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition;
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(2)
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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;
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(3)
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Is enrolled in a classified degree program
with twelve of more credits per semester;
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(4)
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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
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(5)
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Has been determined by the campus to have
unmet direct cost needs.
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[
(c)
]
(d)
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Scholarships shall be awarded to the extent
possible based on available funds and on a greatest need basis.
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An award granted to a student shall be [
equal
to
]
no higher than
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;
provided that the unmet direct cost need for a student
who enrolls in a
community
college
certificate program shall be based on a suitable instrument, as determined
by the university of Hawaii, less the amounts available to the student from
grants and other scholarships.
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[
(d)
]
(e)
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To maintain a scholarship under this section,
a student shall meet the requirements of subsection (b)(4)[
.
]
or
(c)(4), as applicable.
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[
(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.
"
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SECTION
3.
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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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to carry out the
purposes of this Act, including the provision of Hawaii promise program
scholarships.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
4.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
University
of Hawaii; Scholarships; Appropriation
Description:
Expands
the Hawaii promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet needs of
qualified students at any four-year university of Hawaii campus who meet
certain criteria.
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Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.