HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1799

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

H.D. 1

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 University of Hawaii provides lower tuition rates for Hawaii residents as a means of encouraging the State's best students to remain in the State and to provide assistance to those who may not be otherwise financially able to pursue higher education.  It is a matter of statewide concern that some students who receive the resident tuition rate do not complete their undergraduate degrees in a reasonable time, thus taking up space in courses that other students may need to timely complete their degrees.  The legislature believes that students receiving resident tuition rates should be encouraged to complete their degrees in a timely manner.

The purpose of this Act is to limit the number of credit hours for which a student may qualify for the resident tuition fee.

     SECTION 2.  Section 304A-402, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§304A-402[]]  Residence for tuition purposes; basic rule.  (a)  The board of regents shall adopt the necessary rules defining residence for tuition purposes herein; provided that the basic rule shall be that a student shall qualify for the resident tuition fee only if the following criteria are met:

     (1)  The adult student, or in the case of a minor student, the student's parents or guardians, has or have been a bona fide resident of this State for at least twelve consecutive months next preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus; and

     (2)  The adult or minor student has not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for at least twelve months next preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction for any semester or term in which the student is enrolling at the particular college or campus by the student's parents or guardians who are nonresidents of the State; provided that this provision shall not apply in cases where the parent claiming the student as a dependent is entitled to do so under a child support order or agreement issued or entered into in conjunction with a divorce proceeding or legal separation agreement and the other parent and the student meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (1).

     (b)  A student pursuing an undergraduate degree shall qualify for the resident tuition fee for up to a total of one hundred fifty credit hours; provided that:

     (1)  Only credits that can be used to fulfill the requirements of an undergraduate degree shall count toward the total number of credit hours set forth in this section;

     (2)  Students shall be permitted to complete two undergraduate degrees;

     (3)  Credits earned from programs such as but not limited to the early start program, the running start program, and the Advanced Placement program shall not count toward the total number of credit hours set forth in this section; and

     (4)  Credits earned from institutions of higher education outside Hawaii shall not count toward the total number of credit hours set forth in this section."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

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

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2525.



Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Tuition; Residents; Limitation; Credit Hours

 

Description:

Provides that a student in the University of Hawaii system pursuing an undergraduate degree is eligible for resident tuition fees for up to 150 credit hours.  (HB1799 HD1)

 

 

 

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