Bill Text: HI SCR61 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 61 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: University of Hawaii; Veterans; Nonresident Tuition; Waiver

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-13 - Referred to HRE/PSM, WAM. [SCR61 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SCR61-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	61
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the board of regents of the university of hawaii to amend its policies to grant a waiver of the nonresident tuition differential to veterans of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy, who were honorably discharged, regardless of their actual state of residence.

WHEREAS, section 304A-502, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to grant, modify, or suspend tuition waivers; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Regents, through its internal policies, grants waivers of the nonresident tuition differential to the following individuals:

(1) East-West Center student grantees pursuing baccalaureate or advanced degrees;

(2) United States military personnel stationed in Hawaii on active duty, and their authorized dependents during the period that the personnel are stationed in Hawaii;

(3) Members of the Hawaii National Guard and the Hawaii Reserves;

(4) Native Hawaiians whose domicile is outside of Hawaii; and

(5) Employees of the University of Hawaii, their spouses, and their dependents; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Regents' current policies do not offer a waiver of the nonresident tuition differential to veterans who are honorably discharged from active duty within the State of Hawaii or to those veterans who want to come to the State to attend the University of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, since the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 went into effect in 2009, more than 1,500,000 veterans have taken advantage of its benefits to cover the costs of a college education; and

WHEREAS, since 2009, there has been more than a seventeen percent increase in the number of veterans using the benefits provided to them under the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008; and

WHEREAS, at least twenty states have passed some sort of legislation or policy waiving in-state residency requirements for veterans; and

WHEREAS, many states find that universities and colleges can benefit from having more veterans on campus because of the kind of leadership and character veterans bring to the classroom; and

WHEREAS, allowing a waiver of the nonresident tuition differential to veterans will expand educational opportunities for veterans by allowing them to attend college within the University of Hawaii System at the resident tuition rate; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii is requested to amend its policies to grant a waiver of the nonresident tuition differential to veterans of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy, who were honorably discharged, regardless of their actual state of residence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Regents may limit the waiver of the nonresident tuition differential to veterans who intend to use the benefits provided to them by the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, President of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Chancellors of each campus of the University of Hawaii System, and President of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii.