Bill Text: HI HB2113 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-06 - Referred to LBR/HRE, WAM. [HB2113 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2113-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2113
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		H.D. 2
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 legislature finds that an educated state workforce will help to increase government efficiency, provide quality services to the public, reduce waste, and promote innovative ideas statewide.  The legislature also finds that providing incentives for individuals to further their education as state employees will enhance the State's ability to improve government services.

     The legislature declares that providing tuition grants for certain individuals to attend post-secondary or professional degree programs at the University of Hawaii system in exchange for commitment to public service is a matter of statewide concern.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide tuition grants for state employees who commit to employment with the State.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 78, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§78-    University of Hawaii tuition grants for state employees.  (a)  The department of human resources development shall provide grants to fund the tuition of any person who applies for a grant under this section; provided that the following conditions are met:

     (1)  The person is a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen;

     (2)  The person is a current employee of the State;

     (3)  The person is admitted to and enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree program, or community college program, of the University of Hawaii;

     (4)  The person maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the educational program that the person attends;

     (5)  The person is physically present in the State; and

     (6)  The person continues to be employed and commits to employment with the State for a period of five years for an associate's degree or ten years for a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree; provided that:

          (A)  If the person does not obtain the applicable degree, the person shall be obligated to refund the State for the pro-rata portion of the grant for the number of credits remaining to obtain the associate's, bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree, as applicable; or

          (B)  If the person does not fulfill the entire employment commitment required by this paragraph in a state position approved by the department of human resources development, the person shall be obligated to refund the State for the pro-rata portion of the grant for the amount of employment commitment remaining; provided further that if the person is unable to fulfill the entire employment commitment because the person has been involuntarily laid off from a state position approved by the department of human resources development, the person shall not be obligated to refund the State for the pro-rata portion of the grant for the amount of employment commitment remaining.

     (b)  The department of human resources development shall continuously develop and update a list of approved state positions that fulfill the employment requirements established by this section.

     (c)  As used in this section, an "eligible noncitizen" means a person 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)  Notwithstanding chapter 76, the department of human resources development shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 that establish eligibility for a tuition grant pursuant to this section."

     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 2018-2019 to pay for tuition grants for qualifying students; provided that any portion of the sum appropriated that has not been expended by June 30, 2019, shall not lapse; provided further that any remaining unencumbered balance on June 30, 2020, shall lapse to the credit of the general fund.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human resources development for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.

 

 

Report Title:

State Employment; DHRD; Tuition Grants; Appropriation

 

Description:

Directs the Department of Human Resources Development to provide University of Hawaii tuition grants to state employees who commit to continued employment with the State after graduation.  Appropriates moneys.  (HB2113 HD2)

 

 

 

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