THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2052

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to loan forgiveness for early childhood EDUCATION professionals.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 304A-701, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

     "(a)  There is created the Hawaii educator loan program to be administered by the University of Hawaii, in partnership with a financial institution whose operations are principally conducted in Hawaii, to provide financial support to students and teachers who complete a state-approved teacher education program and who agree to teach as a full-time teacher for a period of time to be determined by the university prior to the award of a loan, in:

     (1)  The Hawaii public school system in a hard-to-fill position including special education, regular education shortage categories, or Title 1 schools, and in one of the following capacities:

          (A)  As an elementary school teacher teaching in the field of elementary education who has met standards as set forth by the Hawaii teacher standards board; or

          (B)  As a secondary school teacher teaching in the subject area that is relevant to the loan recipient's academic major as certified by the department of education who has met standards as set forth by the Hawaii teacher standards board; [or]

     (2)  At a school located in a rural area in the State, as determined by the superintendent of education[.]; or

     (3)  At an early childhood education center or facility, as determined by the director of human services.

Eligibility shall be determined by the university on a competitive basis.  The amount to be loaned to a student shall be determined by the board of regents based on need for financial aid and proof of acceptance into a state-approved teacher education program at the university.  The maximum amount of loans that a student may receive under this program shall be an aggregate amount equivalent to tuition payments and costs of textbooks and other instructional materials necessary to complete a state-approved teacher education program."

     2.  By amending subsections (e) and (f) to read:

     "(e)  Upon a showing of proof that the loan recipient has completed a state-approved teacher education program and for each year that the loan award recipient teaches in the Hawaii public school system pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (2)[,] or in an early childhood education center or facility pursuant to subsection (a)(3), loan forgiveness shall be provided to the recipient as follows:

     (1)  Ten per cent of the total amount of the loan award and interest shall be waived every year for the first five years of repayment; and

     (2)  Twenty-five per cent of the total amount of the loan award and interest shall be waived every year for the sixth and seventh years of repayment.

     (f)  If a loan recipient who is a graduate of a state-approved teacher education program subject to this section and teaching pursuant to subsection (a) fails to teach in the Hawaii public school system or early childhood education center or facility for the minimum number of years, as determined by the university prior to the loan, from the recipient's original date of employment with the department of education[,] or early childhood education center or facility, excluding temporary leaves of absence, then the recipient shall repay any remaining loan balance at the rate of ten per cent simple interest."

     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 2020-2021 for loan forgiveness for early childhood education professionals.

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

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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Early Childhood Education; Loan Forgiveness; Appropriation

 

Description:

Adds early childhood education students to the Hawaii educator loan program to allow the education loans of those individuals to be forgiven after an appropriate number of years teaching in early childhood education.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

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