HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

23

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the tuition schedule established by the board of regents of the University of Hawaii has created an unreasonable increase in the cost of attendance.  For example, tuition fees for resident full-time undergraduate students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa steadily increased each academic year since 2011–2012, by approximately 3.1 per cent in 2012–2013, 5.5 per cent in 2013–2014, 7.6 per cent in 2014–2015, 5.1 per cent in 2015–2016, and by another 5.1 per cent in 2016–2017.

     The legislature finds that the cost of tuition at the University of Hawaii is a matter of statewide concern and that it is in the best interests of the State to ensure that all students have affordable access to higher education.

     The purpose of this Act is to subject any tuition fee increase at the University of Hawaii to legislative disapproval.

     SECTION 2.  Section 304A-401, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§304A-401[]]  Tuition fees; resident, nonresident; other fees.  (a)  The board of regents may charge resident and nonresident tuition fees for regular courses of instruction at any University of Hawaii campus, including any community college.

     (b)  The board may also charge other fees for special programs of instruction, as well as laboratory fees, course fees, fees for student activities, and an information technology user fee.  The board may charge other fees for summer session or evening courses, including differential fees for nonresident students.

     (c)  Prior to any regular credit or summer session tuition fee increase taking effect, the proposed regular credit or summer session tuition fee increase made pursuant to subsection (a) or summer session tuition fee increase made pursuant to subsection (b) shall be subject to disapproval by two-thirds vote of either the senate or house of representatives or by majority vote of both houses of the legislature in any regular session following the date of the board of regents' approval of the increase.  The University of Hawaii shall submit for introduction to the legislature a resolution for review of the regular credit or summer session tuition fee increase together with a detailed justification for the increase."

     SECTION 3.  Section 304A-401, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended by section 2 of this Act, shall apply to tuition fee increases applicable to the 2018-2019 academic year and all academic years thereafter, including summer sessions.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Tuition Fee Increases; Legislative Approval

 

Description:

Subjects to legislative disapproval any tuition fee increase at the University of Hawaii.  Requires the University to submit a resolution for review of and a detailed justification for the increase.  Applies to tuition fees for the 2018-2019 academic year and subsequent academic years, including summer sessions.

 

 

 

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