Bill Text: HI HB651 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating To The Hawaii Educator Loan Program.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB651 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB651-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

651

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the hawaii educator loan program.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  In 2001, the legislature established the Hawaii educator loan program to address the State's chronic teacher shortage by providing loans to students participating in teacher education programs.  The program provides loans to students who agree to teach in hard-to-fill positions at public schools or at public schools located in rural areas.  Loan recipients who successfully complete their teaching education program and go on to teach in a position that meets the requirements of the program are eligible for forgiveness of the loan.

     The legislature finds that, due to the loan forgiveness provision of the program, the amount of funds available for new loans has steadily decreased over the last decade.  Despite the shrinking pool of funds, the State continues to face a growing shortage of qualified teachers.  Specifically, the State had an estimated shortage of four hundred forty-nine positions during the 2016-2017 school year.  Testimony from a recent board of education human resources committee meeting indicated that fewer people are entering the teaching profession, with thirty per cent fewer graduates joining the department of education during the 2016-2017 school year compared to the 2010-2011 school year.

     The legislature finds that increasing the amount of funds available to issue new loans under the Hawaii educator loan program will help to encourage more students to teach in hard-to-fill positions within the department of education, including those at rural schools.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Appropriate funds into the Hawaii educator loan program revolving fund; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds out of the Hawaii educator loan program revolving fund to be used for new student loans under the Hawaii educator loan program.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $600,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 to be deposited into the Hawaii educator loan program revolving fund.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the Hawaii educator loan program revolving fund the sum of $600,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 to be used for the Hawaii educator loan program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Hawaii Educator Loan Program Revolving Fund; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates moneys into and out of the Hawaii educator loan program revolving fund to provide loans for students who are completing a state-approved teacher education program and who agree to teach in a hard-to-fill position in the public school system or at a public school located in a rural area of the State.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

 

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