SB2304.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that section 304A-502, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the board of regents of the University of Hawaii to grant, modify, or suspend tuition waivers.

The legislature further finds that 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.

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 for those veterans who want to come to the State to attend the University of Hawaii.

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

The legislature finds that a number of states currently have laws that waive certain residency requirements to allow veterans to attend state universities in states other than their state of residency upon separating from the military.

The legislature further finds that allowing a waiver of the nonresident tuition differential to veterans will expand veterans' educational opportunities by allowing them to attend college within the University of Hawaii system at the resident tuition rate.

The purpose of this Act is to require the board or regents to waive the nonresident tuition and fee differential for veterans of the United States armed forces, who were honorably discharged, regardless of their actual state of residence.

SECTION 2. Section 304A-502, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§304A-502[]] Power of regents to grant tuition waivers. (a) The board of regents, or its designated representatives, is authorized to grant, modify, or suspend tuition waivers.

(b) The board may:

(1) Waive entirely or reduce the tuition fee or any of the other fees for graduate teaching and research assistants;

(2) Enter into agreements with government and university officials of any other state or foreign country to provide for reciprocal waiver of the nonresident tuition and fee differential;

(3) Waive the nonresident tuition and fee differential for selected students from Pacific and Asian jurisdictions when their presence would be beneficial to the university or the State;

(4) Waive entirely or reduce the tuition fee or any of the other fees for students, resident or nonresident; and

(5) Waive the nonresident tuition and fee differential for members in good standing of the following military units, regardless of their actual state of residence:

(A) The Hawaii national guard; and

(B) The federal reserve components of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who attend drills with units located within the State.

(c) Beginning with the 2014-2015 academic year, the board shall waive the nonresident tuition and fee differential for veterans of the United States armed forces, who were honorably discharged, regardless of their actual state of residence, and who use G.I. education benefits. As used in this subsection, "G.I. education benefits" means any education benefit administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that is designed to assist eligible veterans of the United States armed forces cover the costs associated with enrollment as a student.

(d) The board shall determine the percentage of allowable tuition and fee waivers for financial need and other university priorities. These tuition waivers and waivers of the nonresident tuition and fee differential shall be awarded in accordance with guidelines established by the board."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2304
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII