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THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1103

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO FOSTER BOARD ALLOWANCES FOR STUDENTS.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 346-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding to subsection (a) a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Former foster youth" means a person formerly placed under the jurisdiction of the department as a foster child by the family court pursuant to chapter 587 who has attained the age of eighteen."

SECTION 2. Section 346-17.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§346-17.4 [Foster] Higher education board allowances for students. (a) [Any eligible] Eligible former foster [child] youths shall be eligible for [foster] higher education board allowances after reaching the age of majority and the [foster] higher education board payments for that [person] former foster youth shall be paid to an accredited institution of higher learning, another intermediary contracted by the department, or to the [person's] former foster youth’s former foster parents, as appropriate, provided that:

(1) The [person] former foster youth is twenty-one years old or younger; and

(2) [The person] Within one school year after high school completion, the former foster youth is attending or has been accepted to attend an accredited institution of higher learning on a full-time basis, or on a part-time basis for the first academic year, if approved by the director upon such terms and conditions as the director deems appropriate[; and

(3) The person has continued to reside in the foster home wherein the person reached the age of majority, or has continued to be accepted as a member of the foster family and be under the guidance and support of the foster family].

(b) Reimbursement to foster parents for the former foster [child's maintenance cost] youth’s higher education board cost up to the maximum allowable board amount shall be made retroactive to the [person's] former foster youth’s entry into an accredited institution of higher learning on a full-time basis, but no earlier than July 1, 1987, or on a part-time basis for the first academic year, but no earlier than July 1, 1999.

(c) [Foster] Higher education board allowances may be applied to costs incurred in undertaking full-time studies or part-time studies for the first academic year, if approved by the director upon such terms and conditions as the director deems appropriate, at an institution of higher learning.

(d) The department's standards relating to income resources of [the] foster [child] children shall be applicable to this section.

[(e) For the purposes of this section, the term "eligible foster child" means a child who has been placed into foster care by the family court pursuant to chapter 587.]"

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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