Report Title:

UH; B Plus Scholarship Program

Description:

Appropriates funds for the B plus scholarship program.  (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1528
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the university of hawaii.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that national and Hawaii analyses indicate that low-income students, even the highest achieving students academically, are significantly less likely to participate in post-secondary education compared with their more affluent peers.  A major obstacle to their enrollment in post-secondary education is a lack of academic preparation that is motivated, in part, by the misperception that college tuition is exorbitant and that the cost must be paid out-of-pocket.

     The GEAR UP scholars program in Hawaii and other similar programs demonstrate the success of programs that offer college scholarships as an incentive for students to pledge to prepare themselves early for college.

     The purpose of this Act is to further encourage Hawaii residents to pursue post-secondary education by appropriating funds for the B plus scholarship program and changing the program's eligibility criteria.

     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 2007-2008 and the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to fund the B plus scholarship Program; provided that:

     (1)  The University of Hawaii shall offer scholarships to any Hawaii resident who:

          (A)  Enrolls in any campus within the university system;

          (B)  Has graduated from a Hawaii public high school with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and has completed a rigorous high school curriculum;

          (C)  Is eligible for need-based financial aid based on federal financial aid guidelines; and

          (D)  Has pledged, via an early intervention program, to meet the requirements for the B plus scholarship program;

     (2)  Students enrolling in courses and pursuing careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines shall be given higher priority for up to ten per cent of the total scholarships awarded;

     (3)  Priority shall also be given to:

         (A)  Hawaii residents who have pledged, via an early intervention program, to meet the requirements for the B plus scholarship program; and

         (B)  Students who satisfy specific criteria established by a University of Hawaii campus for which priority of awards has been designated; and

     (4)  A B plus scholarship may be renewed annually if the student maintains satisfactory academic progress and continues to meet financial aid guidelines.

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.