Hawaii-2010-HB657-Amended

SECTION 1. Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304A- Veterans scholarship program. (a) There is established a veterans scholarship program to be placed administratively within the university.

(b) The university shall provide scholarships to eligible applicants who are residents of the state who have been accepted for enrollment in the university in an approved course of study. Scholarships shall apply only to tuition, books, laboratory fees, and other required educational fees.

(1) Maintain a domicile in Hawaii during the term of the scholarship;

(2) Comply with any requirements or conditions of the scholarship;

(3) Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or higher, on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent; and

(4) Enter into a written agreement with the university to:

(A) Satisfy all degree and other requirements under this program; and

(B) Reimburse the State for all amounts received under this program and interest thereon, as determined by the university, if the applicant fails to comply with this section.

(d) In addition to the requirements of subsection (c), an applicant shall be a veteran as currently defined by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

(e) The scholarship shall also apply and inure to the benefit of:

(1) The children of any current or past member of the armed forces of the United States; provided that the member:

(A) Was killed while serving on active duty or died while in service; provided that the deaths are documented and directly caused by illness or injury connected with service in the United States armed forces;

(B) Is missing in action; or

(C) Became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury;

and

(2) Orphans or children of any current or past member of the Hawaii national guard and Hawaii reserve; provided that the member:

(A) Was killed after January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the service of the State or the United States; or

(B) Is totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, regardless of whether the members are eligible to receive disability benefits from the department as a result of a service-related injury suffered after January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the service of the State or the United States.

(f) The scholarship is limited to funds appropriated for the purposes of this section.

(g) An applicant shall not receive benefits under this section for more than a cumulative total of one hundred fifty credit hours.

(h) The scholarship shall not apply to an applicant who receives educational benefits under federal law if the value of those benefits is equal to or exceeds the scholarship. If the value of the federal benefits do not equal or exceed the value of the scholarship, the applicant shall first use the federal benefits such that the combined amount of the federal benefits plus the amount of the scholarship shall not exceed the maximum value of the scholarship.

(i) An applicant is not eligible for a scholarship if the applicant is in default on any:

(1) Loan made or guaranteed for educational purposes by the State; or

(2) Other debt owed to the university or any other approved educational institution.

(j) The university shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate this section."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	657
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII