Bill Text: HI SB2052 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating To Loan Forgiveness For Early Childhood Education Professionals.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-05-11 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Thielen excused (1). [SB2052 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2052-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2052
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 304A-701, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

     "(a)  There is created the Hawaii educator loan program to be administered by the University of Hawaii, in partnership with a financial institution whose operations are principally conducted in Hawaii, to provide financial support to students and teachers who complete a state-approved teacher education program and who agree to teach as a full-time teacher for a period of time to be determined by the university prior to the award of a loan, in:

     (1)  The Hawaii public school system in a hard-to-fill position including special education, regular education shortage categories, or Title 1 schools, and in one of the following capacities:

          (A)  As an elementary school teacher teaching in the field of elementary education who has met standards as set forth by the Hawaii teacher standards board; or

          (B)  As a secondary school teacher teaching in the subject area that is relevant to the loan recipient's academic major or licensure field as certified by the department of education who has met standards as set forth by the Hawaii teacher standards board; [or]

     (2)  At a school located in a rural area in the State, as determined by the superintendent of education[.]; or

     (3)  At an early childhood education center or facility, including any school participating in the executive office on early learning public prekindergarten program pursuant to section 302L-7, as determined by the director of human services.

Eligibility shall be determined by the university on a competitive basis.  The amount to be loaned to a student shall be determined by the board of regents based on need for financial aid and proof of acceptance into a state-approved teacher education program at the university.  The maximum amount of loans that a student may receive under this program shall be an aggregate amount equivalent to tuition payments and costs of textbooks and other instructional materials necessary to complete a state-approved teacher education program."

     2.  By amending subsections (e) and (f) to read:

     "(e)  Upon a showing of proof that the loan recipient has completed a state-approved teacher education program and for each year that the loan award recipient teaches in the Hawaii public school system pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (2)[,] or in an early childhood education center or facility pursuant to subsection (a)(3), loan forgiveness shall be provided to the recipient as follows:

     (1)  [Ten] Fifteen per cent of the total amount of the loan award and interest shall be waived every year for the first [five] three years of repayment; and

     (2)  [Twenty-five] Twenty-seven and one-half per cent of the total amount of the loan award and interest shall be waived every year for the [sixth] fourth and [seventh] fifth years of repayment[.];

provided that the total loan forgiveness for a loan award recipient shall not exceed $      .

     (f)  If a loan recipient who is a graduate of a state-approved teacher education program subject to this section and teaching pursuant to subsection (a) fails to teach in the Hawaii public school system or early childhood education center or facility for the minimum number of years, as determined by the university prior to the loan, from the recipient's original date of employment with the department of education[,] or early childhood education center or facility, excluding temporary leaves of absence, then the recipient shall repay any remaining loan balance at the rate of ten per cent simple interest."

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall not apply to any loan issued pursuant to the Hawaii educator loan program under section 304A‑701, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and existing on the effective date of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for loan forgiveness for early childhood education professionals.

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

     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, 2050.

 

 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Early Childhood Education; Loan Forgiveness; Appropriation

 

Description:

Adds early childhood education teachers to the Hawaii educator loan program and allows the education loans of participants to be forgiven after 5 years of teaching.  Establishes a cap on the total loan forgiveness.  Exempts existing program loans.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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