Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Tuition Refunds

Description:

Provides tuition refunds for qualified children of certain law enforcement and military personnel killed in the line of duty or declared prisoners of war or missing in action. Provides tuition refunds to: (1) members of the Hawaii national guard or military reserve who are called into active duty, and (2) active duty military personnel; unable to attend college for more than 60-days in a semester as a result of their military duties.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

110

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to education.

 

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

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to provide tuition refunds:

(1) For qualified children of certain veterans of law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, water safety, air ambulance pilots, air ambulance medical technicians, and Hawaii military, who are killed in the line of duty or declared to be prisoners of war or missing in action; and

(2) To:

(A) members of the Hawaii national guard or military reserve who are called into active duty; and

(B) active duty military personnel;

unable to attend college for more than sixty days in a semester as a result of their military duties.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding four new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304-A Tuition refund for children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, water safety officers, and air ambulance pilots and medical personnel. (a) Any natural or legally adopted child of a:

(1) Regular, paid law enforcement officer;

(2) Volunteer law enforcement officer;

(3) Regular, paid firefighter;

(4) Volunteer firefighter;

(5) Reserve police officer;

(6) Emergency medical technician;

(7) Mobile intensive care technician;

(8) Water safety officer;

(9) Air ambulance pilot; or

(10) Air ambulance medical technician

who has been killed in the line of duty, shall be entitled to receive a tuition refund upon the successful completion of each of a maximum of eight semesters at the University of Hawaii; provided that the child is under the age of twenty-two at the time of application for a refund, is a full-time or part-time undergraduate student pursuing a prescribed course of study, and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college, university, or school; provided further that no refund shall be awarded under this section for tuition paid for summer session, outreach, or extension courses.

(b) The amount of tuition refund under this section shall be one hundred per cent of the tuition paid for a semester for a student enrolled at a community college, and fifty per cent of the tuition paid for a semester for a student enrolled at a university campus. If the child receives any other benefits from any source specifically designated for tuition, the amount of tuition refunded under this section shall be reduced by the amount of the other benefits. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the State to remit any tuition for terms completed by a child who would have been eligible to receive a refund under subsection (a) prior to the child's application for the benefits provided under this section.

(c) The president of the University of Hawaii shall consult with the director of labor and industrial relations to carry out the purposes of this section.

§304-B Tuition refund for children of Hawaii veterans killed in action. (a) Any natural or legally adopted child of a deceased veteran who:

(1) Filed Hawaii state income taxes for thirty-six consecutive months or more;

(2) Served in the armed forces of the United States from:

(A) April 6, 1917, to July 2, 1921;

(B) September 16, 1940, to December 31, 1946;

(C) June 25, 1950, to January 31, 1955;

(D) August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975; or

(E) After August 2, 1990;

(3) (A) Sustained a service-connected disability:

(B) Was killed in service as evidenced by records of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

(C) Received wounds as a result of enemy action; or

(D) Received the Purple Heart Medal; and

(4) Did not receive a dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, or discharge under other than honorable conditions from the United States Armed Forces;

shall be entitled to receive a tuition refund upon the successful completion of each of a maximum of eight semesters at the University of Hawaii; provided that the child is under twenty-two years of age at the time of application for a refund, is a full-time or part-time undergraduate student pursuing a prescribed course of study, and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college, university, or school; provided further that no refund shall be awarded under this section for tuition paid for summer session, outreach, or extension courses.

(b) The amount of tuition refund under this section shall be one hundred per cent of the tuition paid for a semester for a student enrolled at a community college, and fifty per cent of the tuition paid for a semester for a student enrolled at a university campus. If the child receives any other benefits from any source specifically designated for tuition, the amount of tuition refunded under this section shall be reduced by the amount of the other benefits. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the State to remit any tuition for terms completed by a child who would have been eligible to receive a refund under subsection (a) prior to the child's application for the benefits provided under this section.

(c) The president of the University of Hawaii shall consult with the director of the office of veterans' services to carry out the purposes of this section.

§304-C Tuition refund for children of Hawaii veterans declared prisoners of war or missing in action. (a) Any natural or legally adopted child of a veteran who:

(1) Was classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action after January 1, 1960; and

(2) Filed Hawaii state income taxes for thirty-six consecutive months or more immediately prior to entering active duty in the United States armed forces,

shall be entitled to receive a tuition refund upon the successful completion of each of a maximum of eight semesters at the University of Hawaii; provided that the child is less than twenty-two years of age at the time of application for a refund, is a full-time or part-time undergraduate student pursuing a prescribed course of study, and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college, university, or school; provided further that no refund shall be awarded under this section for tuition paid for summer session, outreach, or extension courses.

(b) The amount of tuition refund under this section shall be one hundred per cent of the tuition paid for a semester for a student enrolled at a community college, and fifty per cent of the tuition paid for a semester for a student enrolled at a university campus. If the child receives any other benefits from any source specifically designated for tuition, the amount of tuition refunded under this section shall be reduced by the amount of the other benefits. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the State to remit any tuition for terms completed by a child who would have been eligible to receive a refund under subsection (a) prior to the child's application for the benefits provided under this section.

(c) The president of the University of Hawaii shall consult with the director of the office of veterans' services to carry out the purposes of this section."

SECTION 3. Section 304-16.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

1. By amending its title to read as follows:

"§304-16.5 University of Hawaii tuition and fees special fund; tuition schedule [and], waivers[.], and refunds."

2. By amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The board of regents, or its designated representatives, [is authorized to] may grant, modify, or suspend tuition waivers. The board shall refund in full any tuition paid for a semester upon the request of any student who is:

(1) A member of the Hawaii national guard or United States military reserves who is ordered to active duty and is unable to attend school for more than sixty days during the semester due to requirements of the member's military or national guard service; or

(2) A full-time member of the United States military on active duty who is unable to attend school for more than sixty days during the semester due to requirements of the member's military service.

The board of regents shall provide a report and make recommendations as appropriate to the legislature on all tuition waivers and refunds no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. This report shall include but not be limited to the number of tuition waivers[, scholarships, stipends, and mandatory fees] granted to financially needy students [from ethnic groups that are under-represented in the student population of the University of Hawaii through the Hawaii opportunity program in education.] and the number of tuition refunds granted pursuant to this section to students who are members of the Hawaii national guard, United States military reserves, or United States military, or pursuant to this chapter to students who are members of the Hawaii national guard or children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, water safety officers, air ambulance pilots, air ambulance medical personnel, or Hawaii veterans killed in the line of duty, declared prisoners of war, or missing in action."

SECTION 4. In accordance with article X, section 6, of the state constitution, the legislature finds and declares this Act to be of statewide concern.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 2 and 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

INTRODUCED BY:

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