Report Title:

Running Start Program; Graduation Requirements; Liability

Description:

Allows students participating in the running start program to receive credit toward graduation for college coursework. Releases the DOE from any liability for students participating in the program who exit their school campus to conduct activities not associated with a DOE program.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1811

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the running start program.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 302A-401, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-401 Running start program. (a) There is created in the department the running start program to permit eligible students to enroll in [any qualified course] courses offered by the University of Hawaii system.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

"Eligible student" means a high school student in the eleventh or twelfth grade who:

(1) Has passed a standardized test administered by the college that demonstrates the student's ability to succeed at the college level;

(2) Is under the age of twenty-one as of September 1 of the school year in which the college course is taken; and

(3) Has other qualifications deemed appropriate by the department of education or the University of Hawaii; provided that subsequent qualifications do not restrict any student from taking the standardized test.

["Qualified course" means any vocational or academic course offered by the University of Hawaii system that also applies to the department's graduation requirements or is otherwise permitted by department rule or policy.]

(c) All course credits successfully completed pursuant to this section that would otherwise be transferable but for a student's grade level, shall be transferable to any University of Hawaii system degree granting institution; provided that the student is admitted to the campus where the credit is transferred.

(d) College courses successfully completed under this section and aligned with the board's curriculum requirements shall also satisfy the department's graduation requirements [as determined by the department pursuant to rule.].

(e) This section shall not preclude the department and the University of Hawaii from establishing programs by mutual agreement that permit high school students to enroll in college courses.

(f) Every student enrolled in a college course pursuant to this section shall remit appropriate tuition and fees to the college for every college course.

(g) The department shall inform the student's parent or guardian in writing that the department and its employees or agents shall not incur any liability as a result of any injury arising from exiting a school campus to conduct activities unrelated to any of the department's programs. The student's parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging that:

(1) The department and its employees or agents shall not incur any liability as a result of any injury arising from the student's exiting the school campus to conduct activities unrelated to any of the department's programs; and

(2) The parent or guardian shall indemnify and hold harmless the department and its employees or agents against any claims arising out of the student's exiting the school campus to conduct activities unrelated to any of the department's programs.

The permission shall be effective for the school year for which it is granted."

SECTION 2. Section 304-67.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

1. By amending subsections (a) and (b) to read:

"(a) There is established in the department of education, the running start program to allow eligible students to enroll in [any qualified course] courses offered by the University of Hawaii system.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

"Eligible student" means a high school student in the eleventh or twelfth grade who:

(1) Has passed a standardized test administered by the college that demonstrates the student's ability to succeed at the college level;

(2) Is under the age of twenty-one as of September 1 of the school year in which the college course is taken; and

(3) Has other qualifications deemed appropriate by the department of education or the University of Hawaii; provided that subsequent qualifications do not restrict any student from taking the standardized test.

["Qualified course" means any vocational or academic course offered by the University of Hawaii system that also applies to the department of education's graduation requirements or is otherwise permitted by department of education rule or policy.]"

2. By amending subsection (d) to read:

"(d) College courses successfully completed under this section and aligned with the board of education's curriculum requirements shall also satisfy the department of education's graduation requirements [as determined by the department of education pursuant to rule]."

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

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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