HB525

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Tuition and Fees

Description:

Provides tuition and fee exemptions for children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, reserve police officers, emergency medical services personnel, and water safety officers disabled or killed in the line of duty, and children of disabled Hawaii veterans and Hawaii veterans declared Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	525
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTION.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304- Tuition and fee exemptions for children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and water safety officers. (a) Any natural or legally adopted child of a:

(1) Regular, paid law enforcement officer;

(2) Volunteer law enforcement officer;

(3) Regular, paid firefighter;

(4) Volunteer firefighter;

(5) Reserve police officer;

(6) Emergency medical technician;

(7) Mobile intensive care technician; or

(8) Water safety officer

who has been permanently and totally disabled or killed in the line of duty shall not be required to pay tuition or mandatory fees incurred at any state-supported college, university, or technical school; provided that the child shall be less than twenty-three years of age, a full-time student pursuing a prescribed course of study, and maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college, university, or school; provided further that if the child receives any other benefits from any source specifically designated for tuition and mandatory fees, the amount of tuition and fees waived under this section shall be reduced by the amount of the other benefits. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the State to remit any tuition or fees for terms completed by a child prior to the child's application for the benefits provided under this section.

(b) The director of labor and industrial relations shall consult with the president of the University of Hawaii to carry out the purposes of this section.

§304- Tuition and fee exemptions for children of disabled Hawaii veterans. (a) Any natural or legally adopted child of a disabled veteran who:

(1) Filed Hawaii state income taxes for thirty-six consecutive months or more;

(2) Served in the armed services of the United States from:

(A) April 6, 1917, to July 2, 1921;

(B) September 16, 1940, to December 31, 1946;

(D) August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975; or

(E) After August 2, 1990;

(3) Sustained service-connected disabilities or was killed in service as evidenced by records of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, received wounds as a result of enemy action, or received the Purple Heart Medal; and

(4) Was not dishonorably discharged from the United States armed services,

shall be entitled to receive up to one hundred twenty-four semester credit hours of benefits, specifically for tuition and mandatory fees, at any state-supported college, university, or technical school; provided that the child shall be less than twenty-three years of age, is a student pursuing a prescribed course of study, and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college, university, or school; provided further that if the child receives any other benefits from any source specifically designated for tuition and mandatory fees, the amount of benefits provided under this section shall be reduced by the amount of the other benefits.

(b) This section shall apply to a child of a disabled Hawaii veteran even if the veteran sustained service-connected disabilities or was killed in service as evidenced by the records of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, received wounds as a result of enemy action, or received the Purple Heart Medal before the effective date of this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the State to remit any tuition or fees for terms completed by a child prior to the child's application for the benefits provided under this section.

(c) The director of the office of veterans' services shall consult with the president of the University of Hawaii to carry out the purposes of this section.

§304- Tuition and fee exemptions for children of Hawaii veterans declared prisoners of war or missing in action. (a) Any natural or legally adopted child of a veteran:

(1) Classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action after January 1, 1960; and

(2) Who filed Hawaii state income taxes for thirty-six consecutive months or more immediately prior to entering active duty in the United States armed services,

shall be entitled to receive up to one hundred twenty-four semester credit hours of benefits, specifically for tuition and mandatory fees, at any state-supported college, university, or technical school; provided that the child was born to, adopted by, or in the legal custody of the veteran before or during the time the veteran was classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action, shall be less than twenty-three years of age, is a student pursuing a prescribed course of study, and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college, university, or school; provided further that if the child receives any other benefits from any source specifically designated for tuition and mandatory fees, the amount of benefits provided under this section shall be reduced by the amount of the other benefits. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the State to remit any tuition or fees for terms completed by the children prior to their application for the benefits provided under this section.

(b) The director of the office of veterans' services shall consult with the president of the University of Hawaii to carry out the purposes of this section."

SECTION 2. 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 2005-2006, and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to carry out the purposes of this Act.

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

SECTION 3. In accordance with article X, section 6 of the state constitution, the legislature finds and declares this Act to be a law of statewide concern.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________