Creates the Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship program at the University of Hawaii.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The Senator Hiram L. Fong commission, was established by the twenty-third legislature in Act 117, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, to research and find means to honor and recognize the distinguished political, business, and community leader. The commission has completed its report and recommended, as its first priority, that the legislature establish and endow the Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship at the University of Hawaii. The commission found, and the legislature agrees, that the establishment of such a scholarship is the most appropriate and fitting way to honor, recognize, and perpetuate the memory of Senator Fong, who championed civil rights, labor rights, and immigration reform, and who represented all the people of Hawaii without ideologically politicized division. The purpose of this Act is to implement the first recommendation of the Senator Hiram L. Fong commission.

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

"§304-   The Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship program; special fund. (a) There is created the Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship program to be administered by the University of Hawaii. The program shall be used to provide financial support to students enrolled at any campus of the University of Hawaii.

(b) Awards shall be granted annually to one female student and one male student who:

(c) The amount to be awarded to a student shall be determined by the board of regents with due regard to the total amount of funds available for the program. The award that a student receives under this program may be used to cover the costs of tuition and fees, the costs of textbooks and other instructional materials, or the costs of room and board at a dormitory or apartment maintained by the University of Hawaii or to defray the difference between the student need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the total cost of attendance.

(d) The board of regents shall adopt rules to implement the Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship program. The rules shall be adopted pursuant to chapter 91 but shall be exempt from the public notice and public hearing requirements.

(e) There is hereby created the Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship program special fund. The special fund shall be administered by the board of regents of the University of Hawaii for the purposes of supporting the Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship program."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for transfer into the Senator Hiram L. Fong scholarship program special fund.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.