Bill Text: HI SB2390 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To The University Of Hawaii.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-23 - Referred to HRE/HWN, WAM. [SB2390 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2390-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2390
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
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.  According to Article X, section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution, the "State shall provide for a Hawaiian education program consisting of language, culture and history in the public schools."  This commitment was recently reaffirmed by the Hawaii Supreme Court in their August 13, 2019 ruling on Clarabal v. Department of Education.  In that ruling, the Hawaii Supreme Court held "that the Hawaiian education provision was intended to require the State to institute a program that is reasonably calculated to revive the Hawaiian language."

     The Legislature finds that one important means for the State of Hawaii to continue fulfilling this commitment is to support the matriculation of students who are fluent in the Hawaiian language into teacher education programs in the State of Hawaii.  The purposes of this Act are to:

     (1)  Establish the Hawaiian language fluency special fund to provide scholarships and tuition waivers for students who:

          (A)  Are fluent in the Hawaiian language; and

          (B)  Attend or intend to attend the University of Hawaii college of education; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the Hawaiian language fluency special fund.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, part II, subpart B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-    Hawaiian language fluency special fund.  (a)  There is established a special fund to be known as the Hawaiian language fluency special fund.  The board of regents shall provide a scholarship or tuition waiver to any person who applies for a scholarship or tuition waiver under this section, provided that the person:

     (1)  Is a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen;

     (2)  Has been a resident of the State for at least twelve months prior to the time of applying for the waiver and has qualified for resident tuition;

     (3)  Is physically present in the State;

     (4)  Demonstrates fluency in the Hawaiian language;

     (5)  Attends or intends to attend the college of education; and

     (6)  Maintains:

          (A)  Satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the college of education; and

          (B)  Continuous full-time enrollment at the college of education, except for medical or personal absences approved by the college of education,

     (b)  As used in this subsection, an "eligible non-citizen" means a person who is:

     (1)  A United States permanent resident who holds a permanent resident card;

     (2)  A conditional permanent resident of the United States; or

     (3)  The holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations:

          (A)  Refugee;

          (B)  Asylum granted;

          (C)  Parolee; or

          (D)  Cuban-Haitian Entrant.

(c)  The board of regents shall adopt rules that establish eligibility for a scholarship or tuition waiver pursuant to this section, including the assessment of fluency in the Hawaiian language."

     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 to be deposited into the Hawaiian language fluency special fund for the purposes of section 304A-  .

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

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Tuition Waivers; Scholarships; Hawaiian Language; Fluency

 

Description:

Establishes the Hawaiian language fluency special fund to provide scholarships and tuition waivers for students who are fluent in the Hawaiian language and attend or intend to attend the University of Hawaii college of education; Appropriates funds to the Hawaiian language fluency special fund.

 

 

 

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