Appropriates funds for tuition waivers for department of education teachers who pursue continuing education for professional development.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in order to adequately teach our children as they prepare for life in the twenty-first century, Hawaii’s public school teachers must keep up with emerging trends and be on the cutting edge of new knowledge and teaching techniques. To effectively meet these challenges, teachers must be encouraged to grow and develop professionally.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for tuition waivers or reimbursement to department of education teachers who pursue professional development coursework approved by the department of education at either the University of Hawaii system or at another accredited public institution of higher education.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§3O2A- Educational incentive program; tuition. There is established a teacher incentive program in the form of waiver or reimbursement of fees paid for tuition, textbooks, and other related costs by public school teachers who pursue professional development coursework approved by the department of education at an accredited college or university. The department of education shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 necessary for the implementation of this section."

SECTION 3. Section 304-16.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§304-16.5 University of Hawaii tuition and fees special fund; tuition schedule and waivers. (a) There is established the University of Hawaii tuition and fees special fund into which shall be deposited all revenue collected by the university for regular, summer, and continuing education credit tuition, tuition related course and fee charges, and any other charges to students, except as provided by law. Moneys deposited into the fund shall be expended to maintain or improve the university’s programs and operations and shall not be:

Any rule, policy, or action of any agency or individual in contravention of this subsection shall be void as against public policy.

(b) The board of regents, or its designated representatives, is authorized to grant, modify, or suspend tuition waivers. The board of regents shall provide a report and make recommendations as appropriate to the legislature on all tuition waivers no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. This report shall include but not be limited to the number of tuition waivers and scholarships, stipends, and mandatory fees granted to financially needy students from ethnic groups that are under-represented in the student population of the University of Hawaii through the Hawaii opportunity in education endowment special fund.

(c) In addition to any other tuition waivers provided under this chapter there is established a teacher incentive program at the University of Hawaii to provide tuition waivers to teachers from the department of education who pursue professional development coursework approved by the department of education.

[(c)] (d) Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the board of regents may authorize expenditures from this fund for the purpose of generating private donations for deposit into the University of Hawaii Foundation for the purposes of the university. Any expenditure authorized pursuant to this subsection shall be for a public purpose and shall not be subject to chapters 42F, 103, 103D, and lO3F. The university shall submit a comprehensive report to the legislature every regular session detailing the use of any funds authorized by the board under this subsection."

SECTION 4. 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 2001-2002, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to pay for necessary textbooks and fees for department of education teachers pursuing preapproved professional development coursework, and to pay tuition for those teachers pursuing such coursework at accredited institutions of higher education other than the University of Hawaii system.

SECTION 5. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.